Can Sex Really Cause Headaches or Migraines?
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DR. MICHAEL SMITH: Unfortunately, sex can cause migraines and headaches. We don't quite know why sex can cause migraines. It might be a change in blood flow, change in blood pressure, may be a surge of chemicals that causes a migraine-- we don't know.
But it can also cause other types of headaches. Two particular types-- there's a pre-orgasmic headache. Obviously, happens kind of during the time of arousal, as excitement mounts, so to speak.
And there's also orgasmic headaches. Usually orgasmic headaches are just short-lived, but sometimes they can last a little bit longer-- four hours or more. If that happens, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever-- something like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If it happens frequently, though, definitely tell your doctor, because he can give you medicine to actually decrease the frequency of those headaches.
But it can also cause other types of headaches. Two particular types-- there's a pre-orgasmic headache. Obviously, happens kind of during the time of arousal, as excitement mounts, so to speak.
And there's also orgasmic headaches. Usually orgasmic headaches are just short-lived, but sometimes they can last a little bit longer-- four hours or more. If that happens, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever-- something like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If it happens frequently, though, definitely tell your doctor, because he can give you medicine to actually decrease the frequency of those headaches.
