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.

OP to answer your question I didn't have any further investigation. I had an emergency CT scan referral but I didn't have it because I had to pick my children up. This was donkeys years ago though and I've been fine ever since.

@Ilovegoldies Ah I see. It's hard with children isn't it, I'm hoping my appointment time comes through within school hours!

How odd, I didn't realise so many other people got these

Dehydration also a big trigger for mine. Mine started after orgasm and then started happening after I had been running to the point where I would get anxious before a run anticipating the headache afterwards

I was on the verge of asking the Gp for some sort of brain scan when I got covid and then long covid and now I don't get them (well I can't run now so there's that but I don't get them when I orgasm anymore).

I have no idea what caused them. I am on HRT and did notice something was making them feel like they were coming back but that's gone now!

There is apparently a name for them

ExH used to get them. First time was terrifying and I very nearly called an ambulance. He had a dull headache for just over a day after.

I think they’re called thunder clap headaches?

Yes this happens to me too from time to time. I don’t have many orgasms, but occasionally when I do I get a sharp pain in my head immediately after climax which last for a few seconds. I come maybe once a month, and the headaches happen maybe once a year. It’s always been this way. There’s no rhyme or reason to it as far as I can see. Masturbation or with someone else makes no difference. Very weird and unpleasant but I have always thought that they were nothing to worry about.

They’re called Coital Migraine and are not unusual. I used to get them but they went after I lost weight

How’s your blood pressure?

and hydration level?

@Newsenmum BP is healthy but hydration not so much - I'm working on it!

Had my bloods back yesterday and low on VitD, VitB12 and Iron Deficient so this probably doesn't help 😬

I very rarely get headaches, but I have had this. It's very painful!

There was an article about this a while back. I've found it again for you.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jun/07/experience-i-was-hospitalised-with-a-sex-headache

Thank you! I'll have a read.

Well, I sent a form to my GP this morning describing symptoms (and an ongoing general headache) and I've been given a 4pm apt. Oooer. Same day. Unheard of ......

CT clear. Lumber puncture ditto. So no brain bleed which is what GP was worried about.
But no answer as to why I'm getting the 'post coital' headaches and more general headaches besides.

Doc did say I ought have got myself checked out after the first one.

Hey ho

When they'd have said, come back if it happens again! Glad you're OK.

I get them, I also since peri started getting occular migraine after orgasm with zig zagging in my vision and feeling out of sorts. It seems to be hormonal and always mid cycle. Had eyes checked and consultant said that aura migraine post sex can be common too. I had a daith piercing in March and not had one since, but still get tension like headache

Thanks all. Much more common than we realise it seems!

I had a CT and it came back normal. Was lacking quite a bit with a recent blood test so now taking medication and general headaches have reduced greatly! Still getting the post-coital migraines though. I think I'm due an eye test.

Glad it's relatively normal and I'm not alone!

Well I've seen a neurologist (after GP sent me to hospital's Same Day Assessment to check for a brain bleed). Neurologist ordered MRI to check for aneurysm. None found. So no bleed, no bubble in the brain. Just very annoying headaches. Haven't let husband touch me since July. The suggestion is I take a dose of paracetamol an hour before sex.
Hmmm.
I'm a person who likes an explanation. Seems it's just a thing I have to get used to!

@faffadoodledo Thanks for updating. Do you suffer with other general headaches? (Migraine, cluster etc)? I'm asking as my GP said if I suffer with headaches in general then these post coital migraines are more common!

I don't.
Tho the neurologist was v interested in my lifetime of acute travel sickness which appears to be getting worse.
He told me that in fact travel sickness is now classified as migraine

@faffadoodledo that is fascinating. I also have worsening travel sickness (and sometimes get orgasm headaches).

I also get terrible headaches after running (but had put it down to dehydration).

I also had a completely clear MRI and suffer with terrible motion sickness. So interesting @faffadoodledo

Why isn't someone doing a study on us ladies with our special brains?

Probably because all the studies were done on men grrrr

Women's health is so under explored!

I personally get mild headaches after almost any form of activity Even certain shop lighting triggers migraines for me - doesn't take much! A study would be very interesting.

I had them years ago the first few times having sex with a new partner. It had been some time... They lasted about half an hour afterwards but didn't happen again ever. I'm not headachy so it was a complete anomaly.
It also happened to a close friend in the same circumstances- the first few times with a new partner. She steeled herself and saw a GP who told her it can be normal. But why is this?