Q:
Lately I’ve been getting headaches after sex. I get a pulsating feeling from the top of my head to my eyes. I used to get them from time to time, but now I get them after every orgasm, and they seem to be getting worse. Needless to say, it’s ruining my sex life. Please help!
A:
You’re not alone. While some folks use headaches as an excuse to not have sex, others develop real ones during or after intercourse. You seem to be in the latter category. Generally, sex-related headaches fall into two categories: benign coital headaches and new-onset headaches. Benign coital headaches tend to occur before or during orgasm, and may persist for minutes or hang on for hours. They are thought to result from muscle contractions, and/or bloodvessel dilation, in the head and neck.
New-onset headaches are severe first-time headaches that can be caused by an acute brain hemorrhage or another serious condition. These require emer gency evaluation and treatment. Based on your description, you are experiencing benign coital headaches; however, because they have been getting worse, I recommend a full medical checkup.
If your doctor concludes that your headaches are of the benign variety, you’re probably tensing up during sex or putting too much pressure on yourself to perform. You need to loosen up a bit. Before sex, practice muscle relax ation, contracting and releasing each muscle group, coupled with deep diaphragmatic breathing. Then stay relaxed. Letting her take control in a chick-on-top position might do the trick.
If that doesn’t kill the post-coital pain, try taking an over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen or ibuprofen a half hour before baring your boner. If you need something stronger, ask your doctor about betablockers or calcium-channel blockers, which can successfully treat coital headaches. Botox injections have also been used to treat headaches that result from muscle tension.
One way or the other, you should be able to enjoy a pain-free orgasm.
Victoria Zdrok's combination of beauty and intelligence has earned her the label as "sexpert" in many media outlets. She writes a monthly column on love, sex, and dating for Penthouse Magazine entitled "Ask Dr. Z," and a column on sexuality and the law for Penthouse Forum. She is a frequent contributor to several publications and has her own SIRIUS Satellite Radio specialty show, The Sex Connection, on Howard 101. You can find out more about Dr. Z at www.sexysexpert.com
