Causes and risk factors
Exact cause of post coital headache is not known. It is triggered by any type of sexual activity i.e. masturbation, oral sex, anal sex, intercourse. Change in BP, anxiety, stress during sexual activity may act as a trigger for sexual headache. Sexual headache can be associated with factors like intake of OC pills, some infection, intracranial aneurysm, aortic dissection, arteriovenous fistula, stroke, coronary artery disease. Men are at higher risk than women. Having history of migraine can cause sexual headache.
Clinical presentation
The headache can occur in two types- It can occur suddenly as throbbing or stabbing pain at the base of skull, without prior symptoms just after orgasm. Or it may occur gradually as a dull pain on both sides of head followed by stiffening of muscles of jaw and neck before orgasm, and worsens with increase in excitement. Headache lasts from few minutes to several hours. Sexual headache accompanied with nausea, vomiting, loss of consciousness and lasting for more than 24vhours may have some underlying cause. It may come in clusters and disappear completely for some years.
Investigation
Medical history by the patient and Clinical examination by the doctor helps in diagnosis. CT scan, MRI can be done to rule out other possible causes of headache. An angiogram or lumbar puncture may be done for further evaluation of headache if necessary.
Treatment
Conservative treatment is required for post coital headache. Medications like analgesics or NSAIDs may help in relieving headache, same may be taken as a preventive measure half or one hour before indulging in sexual activity.
Other Modes of treatment
The other modes of treatment can also be effective in treating post coital headache.
Homoeopathy is a science which deals with individualization considers a person in a holistic way. This science can be helpful in combating the symptoms. Similarly the ayurvedic system of medicine which uses herbal medicines and synthetic derivates are also found to be effective in treating post coital headache.
