Headaches and Sex

[Auntie Stella]

I have recently experienced a ‘strange’ occurrence during sex and am hoping that QDM or another suitably qualified person can give me some advice.

I am a 47 yr old female and have recently started a sexual relationship with someone after abstaining for over a year.
The problem is, that just before and on reaching orgasm I have excruciating pain at the top of my head.
I do suffer from Migraine, but have not has an attack for several months.
I don’t take any medication as a prophylactic measure for Migraine prevention, though have used Propanolol in the past.
The only other medication I take on a regular basis is HRT, which I have used for 9 yrs following a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy.
My blood pressure is normally low – a usual measurement, for me, is 90/60.
I am aware that this ‘condition’ of headaches after sex is common with men.

I was discussing the situation with a friend who suggested that I should seek medical advice immediately as a subarachnoid haemorrhage could possibly occur.
Is this situation as dangerous as she has suggested?

I am at a loss about what causes it and what treatment, if any is available.

Thanks in anticipation.

[Hay Ewe]

Yeah, you should definatly get that checked out, could be serious,

on a lighter note, try moving down the bed a bit more, so your head doesnt bang against the wall!!

Hay Ewe

[sirjfp]

I was once cabin crew for a major oz airline , am now a paramedic . I have attended a few sub-archnoid haemorrhages ,
both have been whilst the patients have been having sex.

A sub arachnoid bleed occurs between the arachnoid and pia mater brain meninges. It is into the space occupied by cerebro -spinal fluid. thus causing raised intra cranial pressure.

It doesn't really matter what your normal Blood Pressure is , any sudden increase in blood pressure ( which can occur during orgasm) or any weakness of the many large or small blood vessels in the area can cause it.

You may be a candidate for one of these and strongly advise you to seek specialist help.
I may well be wrong but the basic fact is that pain occurs for a reason and must be investigated.

Signs and symptoms of a sub arachniod haemorrhage are:

- sudden onset of severe headache
- intensity of pain is related to the size of the bleed
-decrease in mental function
- vomiting, double vision , weakness
- seizures, paralysis, photophobja dizziness, neck and back pain.

If you do experience the above be aware it is not the best orgasm you have ever had but probably a sub arachnoid haemorrhage!

And thus endeth the anatomy and physiology lecture!

[Notso Fantastic]

Before you convince yourself it is serious, take a look at www.webmd.com and type 'Headache after sex' in the search on that website. I think you will find the possible explanation of it fairly reassuring that it isn't necessarily serious, but you are advised strongly to get it checked just in case.

[JimboUK2004]

Holy Cow - anything seems to go on these forums - brilliant!
Well, while my advice may not be very helpful, I still can't help but reply to this unusual case!

First of all - Hay Ewe, that made me laugh, but sirjfp, come on, if you were talking to me, I would be s**t scared by now and sat in A&E rocking backwards and forwards, shivering uncontrollably!

I suggest something that I would have though seems a bit more rational: a) you're telling us all your tales, so thats a good sign, i.e. your alive still! (b) book a normal doctors appointment and get this checked out, if you're not convinced by his/her diagnosis, then seek a 2nd/3rd... opinion. Don't worry... there's no point, you'll only make things worse.

Take care - and happy head-ache-less sex! :p
Lucky ******:{
:ok:
JIM

Hey - P.S. Notso Fantastic - I don\'t reccomend this one little bit - online diagnosis is a VERY BAD IDEA. I had palpatations once and was convinced I had a terminal heart defect...I scared myself half to death and ended up with even more palpatations! Incidently, I went to the GP, had a ECGH monitor strapped to me for a day and turned out to be well. I\'m only 23!

Good luck.
JIM:}

[Auntie Stella]

Hi Folks, and thanks for your prompt responses.
I telephoned my GP this morning for an appointment and of course, he was fully booked.
I stated that it was an urgent matter and the receptionist said she would ask him to call me to discuss whatever the problem is.
He has just called and thank goodness, I was able to explain on the telephone.
I now have to get there by 10.30am and he will see me immediately to check my B/P and look in the back of my eyes etc.
Will check back in when I get home to let you know of the results - if I'm not sent off for a CT brain!

This is very worrying - will I ever have sex again?!:uhoh:

[Flyin'Dutch']

The chances that this is anything but post coital headaches is slim but as others have suggested and you are now being seen for it is important to establish that for sure!

They are actually not an uncommon occurence but, may be not surprisingly. reporting rates are not very high.

Keep us posted!

FD

[Auntie Stella]

I'm now back from my urgent consultation with my GP.
He said that a subarachnoid haemorrhage was something that hadn't occurred to him until I mentioned it! :eek:

Seems my B/P is up to 130/70 today, which, although not particularly high for most people of my age, IS high for me.
I was probably, most definitely, stressed out at the time!

After examining behind my eyes and ensuring that there are no neurological symptoms has sent me away with Propanolol as a prophylactic measure to be taken the day before intercourse.
Whatever happend to being spontaneous?!

If symptoms persist, I shall have to be referred to a neurologist, but hopefully the treatment will have good effect.

Thanks to everyone that's responded. :ok:

[Skylion]

Sounds like you will have to take one a day.... just in case........

[Genghis the Engineer]

I confess that I find it refreshing to know that there are some women who have a functionining libido whilst suffering from stress, even if none are to be found in my own bed :(

G

[Flyin'Dutch']

Hi,

Glad to read you did not have anything sinister going on.

Most people with a subarachnoid haemorrhage don't make it to their GP so was pretty confident that you wouldn't be suffering from that.

Here is a link (http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=74121287) with some more, hopefully useful, information.

Best of luck.

FD

[Auntie Stella]

Hello again FD,

The thing that really frightened me was the fact, that I had no idea why this sort of thing should occur out of the blue.
No-one has any conclusive evidence of the cause.

It could happen again and it could develop into a subarachnoid………or am I being paranoid?
This anxiety is sure to raise my B/P and remove any desire I may feel.

Hopefully the Propanalol will control the symptoms, if not I guess abstinence will have to be the answer. :ugh:

If the gentleman involved is reading this – Pull my nightie down when you have finished! :{ :{

[Flyin'Dutch']

As far as I know there is no evidence to suggest that these Postcoital Headaches are linked to or are precursors for imminent serious problems such as subarachnoid haemorrhages.

I suspect (but have no proof) that based on their origin and the fact that they are supposed to respond well to the Indomethacin (which is an anti-inflammatory) that their origins lay in the changed oxygen/carbondioxide balance which may occur during 'the deed' and impending orgasm, similar changes can happen when people hyperventilate and give migraine type headaches.

I leave it to you to determine which way you tackle this problem!

;)

FD

[Genghis the Engineer]

I know many people who are experiencing stress, it's clearly a normal part of life. Those who are suffering from stress are generally less fortunate and, at least in my experience of the fairer sex, simultaneously suffering from a somewhat reduced libido.

G

[Whirlybird]

Genghis,

In my personal experience, not always the case. Some of us sometimes find sex an extremely good distraction from worrying about the cause of the stress. However, I do mean sometimes. It does at other times result in total lack of interest in sex - I suspect when the stress becomes longterm or results in depression, so that you don't feel like doing ANYTHING!

At least, that's how it seems to work for me, though I have no idea if I'm typical.

[Desert Nomad]

Well, it's been a few days since the orogonal post and the all clear from the Doc. Have things improved since then with the prescription?

[Auntie Stella]

I'm actually unable to do a test run on Propanolol at the present time.
This is a long distance thing, so it's not that simple due to the constrictions that this places.

We shall have to wait a couple of weeks to try again. :O

[Saab Dastard]

This is a long distance thing
You lucky, lucky woman :)

[Farty Flaps]

Well i,ve got a stinker of a headache from not gettin any in the last six weeks.:O

[Auntie Stella]

An update for you........

Ohhhhhhh Yesssssssssssss :O

The Propanaol treatment worked a treat. No headaches following the test run! :E

Problem solved.

Thanks everyone, for the replies - serious and non! :)