Preventing Coital Headaches

A number of women suffer from coital headaches that make intimacy displeasurable. This is not the "not tonight honey" variety of headache, this is an exertion headache, an orgasmic headache and it is real, very real. It may occur during foreplay or right before she climaxes during intimate contact, but the outcome is always the same - a general headache that lasts anywhere from a few minutes, up to an hour or more.

Coital headaches are most likely a result of built up muscle pressure. During foreplay, the arousal feeling causes pressure to build in your head and neck muscles. This is when the uncomfortableness begins. Once the onset begins, achieving ultimate satisfaction from the intimate activity can require a great deal of work. Similar discomfort can also result from running, sneezing, coughing, and straining during a bowel movement.

Coital headaches are sometimes mistaken as referred pain. A referred pain is when you feel pain or discomfort in one spot while the true source of the pain is located else where. Referred pain around your navel after intimate contact could possibly a result of a problem somewhere else in your pelvic region, such as a strained muscle, which was aggravated during orgasm, or even irritable bowel syndrome discomforts, which include other symptoms like diarrhea, cramps, and gas.

Coital exertion headaches can sometimes be pre-treated by taking ibuprofen or naproxen earlier in the evening, before your date starts. Be aware that an orgasmic headache can sometimes be pointing to another underlying condition that merits a doctor's attention. If it is your first one and it does not reoccur there may not be a cause for alarm. However, if the condition persists, a good idea would be to begin maintaining a pain journal.

Detail in your pain journal for a few weeks, prior to going to see your doctor what is happening, when it happens, and how long it last. Things such as how often you feel the pain, whether it is a dull pain or a piercing pain, and if it is steady or brief. It will also be a good idea to include information, if applicable whether sexual positioning and orgasms exacerbate the situation. This information will assist your doctor in pinpointing the rot cause of your problem.

If you discover that your coital headache occurs during G-rated intimate activity, it is possible a switch in exercise activities may help. Your exercise activity may be aggravating the condition. Try switching from aerobic exercise to bicycling. Experiment with other situations you can control to see if that sparks a change. Stop pulling your hair back so tightly. Try relaxing with a cold compress on your head and eyes. Rest your eyes with an eye pillow to reduce irritating light from bothering them. Discontinue using toxic household cleaners and sprays. Grab a short healthy snack to ward off hunger induced headaches. Or try using naturally scented candles or essential oils to fragrance your area instead of the artificial scents.

These headaches should not prompt you to discontinue intimate fun and pleasure, they are just a sign that you may need to ease into it another way. Listen to what it is saying to you.

Resource: Love Skills, by Linda De Villers, Ph.D