Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Coital Headache Followed By Constant Dull Pain At The Nape?
Question: Intense headache developed at the moment of orgasm while having sex. The pain decreased after about 2 minutes to the level it is now. It is a dull, throbbing in the back of my head to my neck. It has been a full week and it is still happening. What should I do?
Brief Answer:
Orgasmic or Coital headache
Detailed Answer:
You have described what is referred to as an orgasmic or coital headache. These types of headaches are almost always diagnosed simply based upon their sheer characteristics of intense pain at the moment of orgasm and how the explosiveness of the headache is so severe that it can literally stop someone in their tracks during sexual relations. This almost never occurs in women....it is the curse of the male for some reason and nobody really knows why.....I guess women get periods....men get coital headaches.
However, a good workup of this type of problem does in fact, include ruling out things such as possible aneurysms in the brain or carotid artery fistulas in the neck. Therefore, I would highly recommend being seen by a good neurologist or better yet a headache specialist who will not forget about the workup and then, prescribe the most appropriate medication for you depending you other conditions and medication regimens.
Ibuprofen is generally useless in these types of headaches as they represent a class of headache known as Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalgias (TAC's). The drug of choice for these headaches would be indomethacin taken about an hour before intercourse or sexual activity. I always allow patients the possibility of a 2nd tablet if they are particularly nervous that the 1st tablet won't hold....but actually, I've never a case where 1 tablet didn't work virtually 100%.
I hope this addresses your concerns and that you'll keep me in mind for future questions regarding these or other neurological/medical issues. Feel free to upload more specific information regarding lab tests and diagnostic studies if done and I'll be happy to look at them in the context of your question.
Otherwise, I'd appreciate your rating this interaction with a HIGH STAR SCORE and look forward to a few words of feedback. In addition, I'd appreciate your CLOSING THIS QUERY if you're satisfied with my response.
Write to me any time at: bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional comments, concerns, or to provide status updates if you'd like which I would love to receive from you to see just what has been discovered.
This consult request has taken a total of 11 minutes of time to read, research, and respond.
Orgasmic or Coital headache
Detailed Answer:
You have described what is referred to as an orgasmic or coital headache. These types of headaches are almost always diagnosed simply based upon their sheer characteristics of intense pain at the moment of orgasm and how the explosiveness of the headache is so severe that it can literally stop someone in their tracks during sexual relations. This almost never occurs in women....it is the curse of the male for some reason and nobody really knows why.....I guess women get periods....men get coital headaches.
However, a good workup of this type of problem does in fact, include ruling out things such as possible aneurysms in the brain or carotid artery fistulas in the neck. Therefore, I would highly recommend being seen by a good neurologist or better yet a headache specialist who will not forget about the workup and then, prescribe the most appropriate medication for you depending you other conditions and medication regimens.
Ibuprofen is generally useless in these types of headaches as they represent a class of headache known as Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalgias (TAC's). The drug of choice for these headaches would be indomethacin taken about an hour before intercourse or sexual activity. I always allow patients the possibility of a 2nd tablet if they are particularly nervous that the 1st tablet won't hold....but actually, I've never a case where 1 tablet didn't work virtually 100%.
I hope this addresses your concerns and that you'll keep me in mind for future questions regarding these or other neurological/medical issues. Feel free to upload more specific information regarding lab tests and diagnostic studies if done and I'll be happy to look at them in the context of your question.
Otherwise, I'd appreciate your rating this interaction with a HIGH STAR SCORE and look forward to a few words of feedback. In addition, I'd appreciate your CLOSING THIS QUERY if you're satisfied with my response.
Write to me any time at: bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional comments, concerns, or to provide status updates if you'd like which I would love to receive from you to see just what has been discovered.
This consult request has taken a total of 11 minutes of time to read, research, and respond.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
