Migraine during sex
I AM 48 YEAR OLD MALE. I AM TAKING MEDS FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND HIGH CHOLESTEROL.
MY BLOOD PRESSURE READINGS ARE NORMAL AFTER BEING ON MEDS FOR LAST TWO YEARS. MY CHOLESTEROL RESULTS ARE STILL HIGHER THAN DR WANTS. I THINK ABOUT 216. MY QUESTION IS WHY DO I GET HEADACHES DURING SEX. IS THIS NORMAL OR SHOULD I SEE A DR ABOUT IT. I ASKED MY DR. ABOUT THIS PROBLEM LAST WEEK AND HE KIND OF BRUSHED IT OFF WITH A COMMENT OF : “YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE WAS PROBLBLY UP DURING THE LAST FEW TIMES YOU HAD SEX”

I HAD HEADACHES FOR ABOUT FIVE TIMES IN A ROW OF HAVING SEX. BUT THE LAST TWO OF THE FIVE WERE ONLY SLIGHT HEADACHES AND THESE HEADACHES DID NOT LAST BUT FOR A MINUTE OR TWO. THE FIRST THREE HEADACHES WERE SEVERE..

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Dr. Joshua’s Answer:

You may be suffering from what we call “bening coital headache”, which is a type of migraine headache that occurs exclusively during sex, usually during climax. It may indeed have to do with the blood pressure elevation at the time of peaking.?

However, a full sudden-onset headache workup should be done once before the diagnosis of benign coital headache is made. The workup includes a thorough history, clinical examination, and then the doctor may order a CT/MRI scan with CT angiogram or MRA angiogram to rule out aneurysms. Sometimes, a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) is done.

There are various possible medications available to treat this type of migraine. The most commonly used is propranolol, taken before intercourse. Other possibilities include anti-inflammatory drugs and calcium blockers. Talk to your doctor about these.

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