An orgasm headache is a headache a person get during sexual activity. A person may have an orgasm headache during masturbation or partnered sex. A primary headache is a condition itself, not a symptom of another health issue.
The location of the headache will vary, but most of the time, it is bilateral (impacts both sides of the head). Those affected tend to have throbbing or pounding aches.
If you wonder why you have headache after sex, why does my head hurt when i masturbate or headache after masturbating, you are in the right place.
Likelihood of Orgasm Headache
Sex-related headaches are rare, with an estimated prevalence of 1% to 1.6% in population-based studies.
Most of those struggling with such a problem are in their 40s, which can happen to both women and men. (1)
As you get more excited, aroused, and just about to climax, the ache can become more intense. The pain then reaches its peak when you orgasm.
If this pain sounds all too familiar, then you are in the right place.
Two main types of sex-related headaches exist post-orgasmic and pre-orgasmic. Post-orgasmic accounts for 80%, and pre-orgasmic for 20% of headaches caused by sexual activity.
Often, patients may have severe or sudden headaches during or before an orgasm. The climax-induced headache can last anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of hours or days. Although the headache can affect both sexes, research shows most of those with pain after orgasm are male. (2)
It is typically not a cause for concern. But, the headache could be a red flag for issues with the blood vessels. Like it is the case with a thunderclap headache. This uncommon ailment strikes out of nowhere like a clap of thunder, hence the name.
It reaches its peak in about 1 minute. This serious health problem often has to do with bleeding around and in the brain. Contact a specialist if the headaches are dramatic and followed by vomiting or nausea.
- In roughly 33% of people, sex could make migraine headaches worse. And in about 50%, it could worsen the cluster headaches. (3)
What Do Sex Headaches Feel Like?
A headache during climax can feel intense. As the excitement increases, patients report feeling as though someone hit them on the back of their head with a baseball bat or cricket bat.
A severe headache after ejaculation can feel as though there is a ruptured blood vessel, even if sex headaches won’t actually damage or injure the brain.
The headache after ejaculation may feel worse at the start. But, it tends to dissipate with time. The aches could be as short as a minute. Or they could stretch on for hours. Those affected could also be sensitive to sound and light during that period.
Pre-orgasmic headaches, however, are slightly different. They appear when you begin feeling aroused. As you are getting more and more sexually excited, the pain could build up. Instead of a sudden strike, these headaches feel like persistent, dull pain.
Both pre-and post-orgasmic headaches are benign headaches. This means that an underlying health ailment doesn’t cause the problem.
A severe headache when reaching climax can also happen. The pain intensity can vary from person to person. As the blood pressure increases during or before reaching climax, the blood vessels in the brain quickly expand, thus triggering headaches.
Who Gets Sex Headaches?
Anyone can have a crushing headache before or after an orgasm. Many of those affected are in their late 30s or early 40s. But, men are 3-4 times more likely to experience this type of problem. Including those with a family history of migraines.
In fact, the prevalence of migraine in patients with headaches due to sexual activity is 25% to 47%. These headaches in migraine sufferers can be repeated and last for weeks or months. Patients without migraine tend to have shorter orgasm headaches.
Orgasm Headache Symptoms
From ecstasy to agony – that’s exactly how the orgasm headache symptoms can feel. The symptoms will vary based on the headache type. You can experience:
- Throbbing, serious, and sudden aches before or when you orgasm.
- Dull pain in the neck and head, which gets worse as you get more sexually excited.
Some patients experience both of these types. Many patients can have these aches for more than a couple of months. But then they can go a year without experiencing any discomfort.
Why am I feeling nauseous after orgasm? Is it the headaches?
Migraine can make you nauseous. But, for women who feel nauseated after penetration, this can happen if the partner penetrates too deeply.
The cervix has a ton of nerve endings, and extremely deep penetration can trigger a vasovagal response. The blood pressure and heart rate drop, which can cause nausea. To avoid that, ask the partner to penetrate less deeply.
Cramps after orgasm can also happen. That’s because the entire experience causes involuntary muscle contraction and engages the pelvic floor and pelvis.
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What Causes an Orgasm Headache?
Why do you get headaches during intercourse? Any sexual activity, whether intercourse or masturbation, can prompt these headaches. When you feel super excited, the muscles in the neck and head begin to contract, causing the pain before an orgasm.
Want to know what causes pain when you climax? Orgasm headache happens as a result of an increase in blood pressure. This makes the blood vessels dilate, thus causing the headache. Also, intercourse or sexual stimulation can lead to an adrenaline spike.
This can increase the pressure in the brain and contract the neck muscles. On that note, the sudden onset of these headaches could be linked with:
- Coronary artery disease
- Some meds, like birth control pills
- Intracranial aneurysm (abnormally dilated artery in the brain)
- Arteriovenous malformation (disrupted oxygen and blood flow circulation)
- Stroke
- Inflammation from some infections
Risk Factors
Research advancements indicate that an orgasm headache can impact anyone. Those at risk are often:
- Men – Male patients have bigger odds of having an orgasm headache.
- Migraine sufferers – Being vulnerable to migraine increases your odds of orgasm headache.
According to research institutions, having someone in the family with migraines makes it a consistent and powerful risk factor for migraines and orgasm headaches. There is a 2-to-3-fold bigger risk of migraine among relatives of individuals with a migraine. (4)
When to See a Doctor
Contact your healthcare provider if the pressure pain gets in the way of your sex life. They could refer you to a neurologist to figure out the right type of treatment. To make the most of your appointment, take note of all the symptoms you are feeling, including how long they last and their intensity.
Write down any headache relief options you’ve tried and other health issues you might have encountered. If you recently had an operation or a significantly stressful event, mention that too.
Stressful things are the most impactful migraine triggers. They can cause headaches and keep it going.
Make a list of any supplements or natural pain reliever alternatives you’ve tried. This can make it easier for the doctor to know what to recommend to keep the orgasm headache in check.
How Are They Diagnosed?
Before diagnosing the problem, doctors will ask you a series of questions. This includes how soon the headache started after the orgasm. When was the first headache, and is there anything that’s making these headaches worse? They can then suggest brain imaging. Such as a CT scan, MRI, or MRA.
If the headache happens less than 48-72 hours before imaging, the CT scan can help pinpoint a blood clot, infection, or tumor. MRI can help identify the cause, while MRA can help visualize each blood vessel in the neck and brain.
Treatment
Managing the headache after sexual activities (ejaculation, masturbating or partnered sex) depends on what’s causing the problem. An over-the-counter pain reliever may provide the necessary relief. Particularly indomethacin and ibuprofen. Your doctor can also prescribe as-needed or daily medication.
Some prescription meds could include beta-blockers and triptans. But, if the orgasm headache is linked with neurological complications, like vomiting, you might be having:
- Coronary heart disease
- Side effects from the meds you are taking
- Inflammation
- Brain hemorrhage
- Tumor
- Aneurysm
Your doctor will recommend the ideal management tactic. This could include stopping/starting meds, getting a surgical procedure, radiation therapy, etc.
Can You Prevent Sex Headaches?
Your healthcare provider can suggest daily meds that could prevent sex headaches in the future. Other than that, there is not much you can do to prevent them. You can try to stop having sex right before the climax or take a more passive role.
Conclusion
Not all orgasm headaches are the same. Some subside quickly, and others last a while. This headache shouldn’t put you at risk of other complications unless you have underlying health problems.
To revamp your sex life, talk to a specialist. They can help you manage the aches and offer valuable information on how you can have an enjoyable sex life.
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