Oh--oh--oh--oh--OUCH!!!! Sex Headaches

[SlickTony]

Who's had one? Besides, that is, myself, earlier this evening. I was right at the edge, and this pain shot through the right side of my head. We stopped what we were doing, and my husband said it might help if I stood up. I did. It receded. We resumed. I got an orgasm of sorts, but the headache came slamming back in right in the middle of it, and really spoiled it.

So l came downstairs and got on the computer and Googled "sex headaches," and first thing, pulled up the Mayo Clinic. The piece in the Mayo Clinic site said that I might want to go to the doctor, especially if it was the first time I'd ever had one. It just about is--I might have had one before, but it happened such a long time ago I have no memory of when it happened. The Mayo Clinic went on to discuss MRIs and CT scans and angiograms and spinal taps. I've already used up my free doctor time for the month, and have next month's reserved by something else.

The only variable I can think of is that the headache occurred in the same place in my head where I had it this morning when I woke up at 5:00, after having drunk an unknown quantity of red wine last night. (We were at a wedding, and the reception was a pretty big blow-out).

Cause for concern? Or should I just blame the Merlot and Cabernet and see if it happens again? And which doctor? My GP or the gynecologist I've just started going to?

 

[glynndah]

Just once? I'm no medical person, but I'm inclined to say not to worry about it unless it happens again.

 

[Katyusha]

I wouldn't worry about it if it's just the once, and there's a mitigating circumstance like alcohol involved. If it happens again, then I'd start with seeing your GP.

 

[sophia jane]

I've had sex headaches several times, usually they hit right during or after orgasm. They feel almost exactly like my tension headaches do. For me, it's just a matter of blood flow etc.
One of the tips I heard when I first started getting them was to have some form of caffeine before sex. I don't remember if it helped.

One thing to remember is that we don't always breathe normally, etc during sex so all kinds or weird physical things can happen for no apparent reason during intercourse/orgasm.

 

[S-Des]

You have to make sure you're not holding your breath. A lot of people do it during sex. When I hold my breath, but strain (like while lifting weights), I'll sometimes get those screaming headaches on one side. I think mine is accentuated by my sleep apnea (because of the breath problems at night, I'll often wake up with the headache in the same area).

 

[Elianna]

I have never had a headache, but I did black out once... the doctor told me that was pretty common since blood was flowing to "other regions" and he said to make sure I'm breathing enough...

(Yeah, like that's what you're thinking about...)

 

[SlickTony]

Thanks for the input, y'all. My husband said he was inclined to blame the red wine, which sometimes brings on headaches anyway, and we'd have to see if it happened again (without the red wine). I said I hoped we would, and that it wouldn't.

I don't think I'm holding my breath during.

 

[Oblimo]

In my teens and early twenties, an orgasm risked a short-lived but shattering headache. Never knew if it was neurological or circulatory; I've got a weird brain and weird blood vessels feeding it.

 

[rachlou]

I went through a spell of enduring horrible headaches right after orgasm. It kinda spoilt the moment, but luckily didn't persist. After reading the previous posters, I can see that blood flow in the opposite direction to my head as well as not breathing enough, might have been contributary factors.

 

[sweetness6280]

You may be having orgasmic migraines. I had a spell of them about 7 years ago. They are rare, but incredibly painful. One of mine became so intense, my husband and I thought I was having a stroke. (I lost sensation in my left side, and there was some drooping in my face) He rushed me to the hospital, where they immediately performed an incredible number of tests. My family doc called me the next morning, and told me to come into his office immediately. He asked a few questions, then told me that he had them too.

They can be triggered by stress, wine, chocolate... most of the same triggers for regular migraines. Fear of having one can also be a trigger.

Mine were stress related. I still have one every now and then, but now I know the early signs and I am able to slow down, breathe, and either eliminate or reduce the pain.

 

[TE999]

I get them sometimes when my noggin smacks the headboard.

New positions can be hazardous to your health.

Like I'm gonna stop? Wrong!

 

[SlickTony]

I'm inclined to go on blaming the red wine; I did have quite a lot of it, no telling how much. The headache has been lurking around threatening to come back, although I haven't had any sex since yesterday. In fact, it tried to come back while I was at work. Fortunately, I have a bottle of Ibuprofens at my workplace.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

According to Hot Mama, a red wine hangover is the worst there is because in addtion to the ethenol it in, there are what are called "minor esters", relatives of ethenol that are deadly poisonous. They're just in such small amounts that all you get is a vicious headache instead of dead. Sometimes, you might wonder which is worse . . .

 

[Oblimo]

...minor Esthers...

I think there's a literotical rule against those.

 

[Guest]

Don't get dehydrated...it can happen if you are it for a while.

Maharat

 

[Bedtime Storyteller]

I get them after orgasm, just about the time I hit the bathroom and pee. My gyno had never heard of it, and I had an MRI. Nothing (of course) showed up. I still get them from time to time. I find that if I stay in bed for at least 15 min afterwards before getting up to pee, I can avoid it. I suspect it is blood-pressure related.

I don't get them after masturbation, however. Just after sex with a partner.