Orgasm Headache: Causes, Treatment, And More - Healthline

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What Causes an Orgasm Headache and How Is It Treated?

Medically reviewed by Janet Brito, Ph.D., LCSW, CST-S — Written by Annamarya Scaccia — Updated on February 6, 2023

Types and symptoms
Causes
Risk factors
Treatment
See your doctor
Diagnosis
Outlook
Prevention

Orgasm headaches are typically benign. But some additional symptoms may indicate a more severe condition.

What exactly is an orgasm headache?

Imagine this: You’re in the heat of the moment, then all of a sudden you feel severe throbbing in your head as you’re about to orgasm. The pain lasts for several minutes, or maybe it lingers for a couple of hours.

What you may have experienced is known as an orgasm headache, a rare — but often harmless — type of sex headache that happens before or at the moment of sexual release.

What do sex headaches feel like?

An orgasm headache is one of two types of sex headaches. You’ll know you’re having an orgasm headache if you feel a sudden, severe, throbbing pain in your head before or during sexual release.

The second type is a sexual benign headache. Sexual benign headaches start as a dull pain in the head and neck that builds up as you become more sexually aroused, leading to a painful headache.

Some people may experience both types of headaches at once. They usually last several minutes, but some headaches can continue for hours or even up to three days.

Sex headaches can happen as a one-time attack or in clusters over a few months. Up to half of all people who have sex headaches have them over a six-month period. Some research has shown that up to 40 percent of all sex headaches are chronic and occur for more than a year.

What causes a sex headache?

Although sex headaches can occur at any point during sexual activity, the two types actually have different causes.

A sexual benign headache happens because the increase in sexual excitement causes the muscles to contract in your head and neck, resulting in head pain. A orgasm headache, on the other hand, occurs because of a spike in blood pressure that causes your blood vessels to dilate. Movement makes orgasm headaches worse.

Who gets sex headaches?

Men are more likely to have orgasm headaches than women. People who already experience migraine headaches are also more likely to have a sex headache.

What treatment options are available?

Treating your orgasm headache will depend on the cause. Sex headaches usually aren’t associated with an underlying condition, so taking a pain reliever should be enough to ease symptoms. Your doctor may also prescribe daily or as-needed medication to prevent the onset of sex headaches.

In some cases, head pain during orgasm may indicate a serious issue. If your sex headache is accompanied by neurological problems such as a stiff neck or vomiting, it could mean you’re dealing with:

brain hemorrhage
stroke
tumor
bleeding into the spinal fluid
aneurysm
coronary heart disease
inflammation
medication side effects

Your doctor will determine the best course of treatment after identifying the root cause. This may mean starting or stopping medications, having surgery, draining fluids, or undergoing radiation therapy.

When to see your doctor

Orgasm headaches are normal and usually nothing to worry about. However, a sex headache can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying condition. You should see your doctor if it’s your first-ever sex headache or if it begins abruptly.

You should also see your doctor if you experience:

loss of consciousness
loss of sensation
vomiting
a stiff neck
severe pain that lasts more than 24 hours
muscle weakness
partial or complete paralysis
seizures

Visiting your doctor will help you rule out or begin treatment for any serious issues.

How are sex headaches diagnosed?

Although an orgasm headache is usually nothing to worry about, you should still make sure there isn’t anything more serious going on.

After assessing your symptoms, your doctor will perform a series of tests to rule out any neurological issues. They may perform a:

MRI of your head to exam the structures within your brain
CT scan to look at your head and brain
MRA or CT angiography to see the blood vessels in your brain and neck
cerebral angiogram to exam your neck and brain arteries
spinal tap to determine whether there’s bleeding or infection

What’s the outlook?

An orgasm headache often doesn’t last long. Many people only experience a sex headache once and never again.

Unless there’s an underlying issue, an orgasm headache won’t put you at risk for any complications. Your sex life can continue as it normally would as long as you take your medications to treat or prevent headaches.

On the other hand, if there’s an underlying condition, long-term treatment may necessary. Your doctor is your best resource for information, so talk to them about what you can expect in the short and long term. They can guide you on any next steps.

Can you prevent sex headaches?

If you have a history of sex headaches but don’t have an underlying condition, your doctor may prescribe a daily medication to help prevent future headaches.

Other than taking medication, there isn’t much you can do to prevent an orgasm headache. You may be able to avoid one if you stop having sex before you climax. You could also take a more passive role during sex to help prevent or ease the pain of a sex headache.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2015). Sex headaches.https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sex-headaches/symptoms-causes/syc-20377477
Primary headache associated with sexualactivity (orgasmic and pre-orgasmic headache). (2016).https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/understanding-migraine/orgasmic-pre-orgasmic-headache/
Sexual benign headaches. (2007).http://www.headaches.org/2007/10/25/sexual-benign-headaches/

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Medically reviewed by Janet Brito, Ph.D., LCSW, CST-S — Written by Annamarya Scaccia — Updated on February 6, 2023

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