Oh My Achin' Head
After a thoroughly intense romp, your head is thobbing in pain. What's behind the orgasmic headache?
Headache after orgasm is common, but does not occur in everyone! Here are some interesting points about orgasmic headaches.
Most are not serious...
In most cases, orgasmic headaches are caused by not-too-serious conditions. Uncontrolled or very high igh blood pressure is one cause that may produce a headache during climax orgasm or from physical or emotional excitement. The pain may be severe, wide-spread, and throbbing, lasting for many hours. Other possible causes of headache at orgasm include diabetes and thyroid disease. For some people quick relief may be obtained by lying quietyly on the back.
Keep in mind that in most cases, there is NO SPECIFIC CAUSE. Many cases of orgasmic headaches have no physical cause for the pain. One thought is that excessive excitement or effort during intercourse causes blood pressure to rise beyong normal levels resulting in the headache. Another thought is that hormone-like chemicals called prostaglandins, which are produced in both males and females, may be responsible. Finally, some physicians believe that sexual excitement accompanied by tensing the neck muscles leads to the pain. Whatever the reason...IT HURTS!
Usually very severe
Orgasmic headache has been described as extremely severe, persistent,
and on both sides of the head. Some have described it as a blinding, increasingly
painful headache. Usually, the headaches last an hour or two, but occasionally
a dull ache of the
scalp
or neck
for may
linger
for
several
days. Orgasmic headaches do not occur after every orgasm (fortunately!).
Getting ride of the headache
It is surely no fun lying with your partner who is calming down from the ecstacy while you are in extreme pain. Your partner may think that your headache is his or her fault. Reassure him or her that the sex was great, but the headache is not anyone's fault.
Easing the pain may require lying very quietly in a dark room or applying heat to the painful areas along with taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
Prevention is usually
easy
To prevent orgasmic headache, people are often advised to avoid
alcohol before sex. While the phrase candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker
may also apply to getting one of those nasty headaches. Alcohol has a tendency
to dilate (open) blood vessels that cound contribute
to
headache.
Drugs such
as propranolol
and indomethacin have sometimes been used successfully as preventives, but
require a prescription. If orgasmic headaches persist or increase in frequency,
please see your doctor. Avoiding sex is also an option,
but we're not inclined to suggest that!