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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffThere are two types of sex headaches. The most common variety:
- Gives no warning and occurs within a few seconds of an orgasm
- Is often described as throbbing or stabbing
The other variety of sex headache:
- Often begins as a dull ache on both sides of the head
- May cause tightening of the neck and jaw muscles
- Builds gradually over a matter of minutes before an orgasm
- Intensifies as sexual excitement increases
Most sex headaches last about 30 minutes. Others may linger for a few hours. Many people who have sex headaches will experience them in clusters lasting a few months, and then go for a year or more without any sex headaches.
When to see a doctor
Sex headaches aren't usually a cause for concern. But consult your doctor right away if you experience a headache during sexual activity — especially if it begins abruptly or it's your first headache of this type.
- Cutrer FM. Primary headache associated with sexual activity. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index/html. Accessed Dec. 9, 2009.
- Goadsby PJ, et al. Headaches. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2890365. Accessed Dec. 8, 2009.
- Preorgasmic headache. International Headache Society. http://ihs-classification.org/en/02_klassifikation/02_teil1/04.04.01_other.html. Accessed Dec. 9, 2009.
- Larner AJ. Transient acute neurologic sequelae of sexual activity: Headache and amnesia. Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2008;5:284.
- Delasobera BE, et al. Thunderclap headache with orgasm: A case of basilar artery dissection associated with sexual intercourse. The Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2009;Oct. 7:e1. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T8B-4XDCP10-1&_user=130561&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000010878&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=130561&md5=b63b03a87829d9e5828c5ac9921ab3e5. Accessed Dec. 12, 2009.
- Bartleson JD (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 22, 2009.
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