It’s more common than you’d think. Surprising numbers of people develop headaches during (not before, so there’s no excuse) lovemaking and even masturbation. The headaches can occur at all ages and in both men and women, although are three times more common in men. They also tend to occur during male, but not female, orgasm, and during female but not male masturbation.

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Sex can cause two sorts of headache. The first type occurs as sexual excitement builds. There’s often a dull, cramping, tight feeling at the back of the head. This is probably due to excessive contraction of the muscles of the neck.

The second occurs at the moment of orgasm and can be a sudden, severe pain. This is probably due to contraction of some of the small blood vessels in the brain, similar to migraine. It seems that about half the people with this type of headache are also migraine sufferers. This throbbing pain generally lasts less than an hour, but may be gone in 10 minutes or linger for a few hours.

Some people experience only one type of these headaches, but others suffer from both. They experience a headache that increases during sexual excitement, then culminates in an searing pain during orgasm.

Headaches are also a side-effect of Viagra. Most people find they’re more prone to these headaches when they’re attempting intercourse for the second or third time in quick succession, are stressed or exhausted, or are attempting an uncomfortable or strenuous position.

Try to avoid these situations and gauge whether the situation improves. If you mainly have the dull headache at the back of the neck, make a deliberate effort to relax your neck muscles by stretching it gently or taking a warm bath. If the problem persists you should see your doctor. - (William Smook)
 

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