How Serious Are Your Sex-related Headaches?

According to the Loyola University Medical Center, more than 1% of people get headaches during or after sex.

If you’re part of that group, keep reading to learn about possible causes, the types of sex-related headaches, ways to cope and whether your erectile dysfunction (ED) medication may be causing the headache.

Multiple possible causes

Although it’s rare, some sex-related headaches can be symptoms of serious conditions, such as a stroke, brain aneurysm, hemorrhage or subdural hematoma. Neurologists recommend that anyone who experiences these more than once get a neurological work-up to rule out life-threatening causes.

Types of sex-related headaches

According to Dr. Jose Biller, chair of the Department of Neurology at the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, there are three types of sex-related headaches:

• The dull ache: Similar to a tension headache, a dull ache in the head and neck starts before orgasm and gets worse the more aroused the person gets.
• The “Thunderclap”: An incredibly painful headache that starts during orgasm and may last for hours.
• The post-coital headache: Ranging from mild to intensely painful, this headache starts after sex and gets worse upon standing. This is often caused by a spinal fluid leak.

Ways to cope

If you’ve been evaluated and there’s nothing seriously wrong with you, there are things you may be able to do to help prevent the headache or relieve the pain if it can’t be avoided. 

1. Avoid drinking too much alcohol.
2. Keep a healthy weight.
3. Exercise regularly to promote blood flow.
4. Talk to your doctor about which medications may help the pain or prevent the headache.

According to Biller, men are three to four times more likely to get sex-related headaches than women. Men should talk to their doctor about any medications they’re currently taking, including erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra, Levitra or Cialis.

While one ED drug may cause a sex-related headache, it’s worth trying the other erectile dysfunction drugs as they’re all a bit different.