Orgasm headache/ bleed on brain

[katem98]

Hi all,

Wondering if anyone has experienced similar at all?

Twice last year (sorry TMI) after orgasm I had excruciating head pain that lasted between 0-5 minutes and was fine after. Didn't happen at all after that and was fine.

Last week happened again after intercourse and again last night. The pain was awful last night and lasted around a minute or two but I was then left with a dull throbbing pain afterwards which is still going on today.

It's not unusual for me to have headaches through the night. I've been to the GP lots with headaches and was diagnosed with tension headaches/ migraines. Always usually one sided and feels pulsating. The headache I have been left with today is similar to what I usually get. I am slightly nauseas and dizzy but have taken paracetamol.

I went to the GP today and he explained that orgasm headaches are a thing and much more likely to suffer if you have a history of headaches anyway but wants to send me for a fast track CT scan anyway to rule out a brain bleed but was sure the pain would've lasted longer than a couple of minutes if it was that. He did an eye examination and all looked ok and so did the facial nerve examination.

I'm a little bit concerned and stressed out about the referral and it's probably making the headache worse.

If anyone has experienced either an orgasm headache or subarachnoid haemorrhage I'd be really appreciative if you could share your symptoms/ experiences.

Thanks in advance.

Yes I've had them off and on for years. Mine tend to happen if I'm not very 'relaxed', if I'm holding myself in an unusual position or tensing my body, or unknowingly holding my breath, trying to 'get there' too quickly.

Also a very headachey person- migraines, trigeminal neuralgia and big standard sinus headaches etc.

I find if I relax, make sure I'm breathing evenly and don't tense my body up it doesn't usually happen much anymore. And if it's not looking like I'm going to get there, not to try and force it.

I've had an orgasm headache a few times, it hurts like hell. The first time I thought I was dying, I remember thinking that I hoped DH wouldn't give my family full details of what I was doing to cause my death. After it happened a few times I learned to keep my chin tucked in, it was letting my head arch back that triggered it for me.

@addler @BlackAmericanoNoSugar

Thank you both so much. Sorry to hear you've both experienced them but also pleased I'm not the only one! Maybe they're more common than known? Did your headache linger for a while after any of them?

Normally several minutes, but the worst one was shortly after they started, quite a few years ago, and it was excruciating. I was frozen in pain for about half an hour. Then another half an hour I could turn my head a little, then it slowly faded. That was a particularly energetic session after which I learned to pace myself!

@addler Haha it was the same for me. It was so severe I set my alarm clock every hour through the night to make sure I didn't die

Bump in case anyone else has experienced similar...

OP you have described perfectly the symptoms I've had three times in the last 6 months following orgasm. I've also had times without headaches. But yes - blinding, sharp pain for about 5 minutes, maybe a bit more. Then it disappears. I'm going to make an apt to go to see the doctor I think. It's quite alarming

I've had this. I think it's called a thunder clap headache? DH thought he'd killed me. I shrieked and couldn't talk. Was the worst pain ever but only for a couple of minutes.

I had a dull ache for the rest of the day.

@faffadoodledo It's scary, isn't it? Maybe it's not talked of enough which obviously makes it scarier when experiencing it! I'll update once I've had my CT.

@Amsx Sorry you've had them too. It's awful. I'm reassured that you also had the full ache for the day as I'm reading a couple of threads where people felt absolutely fine after which I haven't been this time!

I've suffered from them for years. I haven't actually had one for a long while. My first was around 30 years ago and probably my last around 18 months. I did panic initially and was referred for a CT scan (which I didn't end up having but wish I'd had).

Sorry by I mean I wish I'd had scan I meant to add take the scan to put your mind at rest but rest assured its quite common to experience this.

So not only do women have to contend with often not being able to orgasm during sex, but they get excruciating headaches when they do! Sucks to be a woman.

I’m making light. I too am a headache person. It’s so shit. All the time I’ll get random stabbing pains, which last a few minutes, and then subside. I’m big on tension headaches.

I hope you can find a way not to trigger them, that isn’t the obvious bleak one. Also I hope the shared stories here make you worry less about the pains. I have a friend who had a subarachnoid haemorrhage and the pain did not subside… so I really wouldn’t worry about that. Plus it’s too coincidental that it happened during an orgasm again.

@Ilovegoldies Thank you. How did they rule out anything more sinister? Or were they quite clued up on the symptoms? Thanks for your reply 😊

I get them when I'm dehydrated and DH actually gets killer headaches if he, ahem, 'rushes' so it's not just women. I remember almost calling an ambulance after a hotel quickie on a dreadful hangover a few years ago!

@Staringatthewalljustmeagain
Right?! That's what I said haha. I feel your pain re the tension headaches as I get these a lot too. Thank you, that is actually really reassuring! I hope your friend made a quick recovery?

@HelloMyNameIsElderSmurf
That's interesting. I probably was rather dehydrated - I never drink enough!

My husband gets them too. When they first happened we were in the verge of going to A&E!

I have recently had a MRI for this - no results after a week so assuming can't be that bad?

I've had a sub-arachnoid hemorrhage. My symptoms were an instant chronic head pain like 'cramp' in my brain with 'buzzing' in my head. I then after 5 minutes or so started vomiting - which is one of the symptoms. It was a headache from hell that didn't subside. and needed surgery to stem the bleed.

I don't know if yours is that or not, but you asked for what the symptoms of a hemorrhage was.

@Pennyplant19 I don't blame him, I was close too!

Exactly the same.

@SwayingInTime Would you let me know what your results say when you get them in? I work in a GP surgery and we're usually informed pretty quickly if it's anything urgent and would definitely almost always be before 1 week so yes, I wouldn't worry too much!

@Furball Thank you for sharing that. No vomiting and the severity of the head pain definitely subsided within a couple of minutes. I hope you've made full recovery?

@katem98 - Yes i have thank you.

I hope you (and the other posters here) get answers and sorted very soon.

@Furball That's good to hear! Thank you - fingers crossed.

So glad I saw this thread!