Coital Cephalalgia Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

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Coital Cephalalgia Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Coital cephalalgia is a type of headache that doesn’t occur often. This disorder is in the form of complaints of headaches

Understanding

Coital cephalalgia is a type of headache that doesn’t occur often. This disorder is in the form of complaints of headaches after a person has sexual activity, especially after having an orgasm. These headaches are generally non-specific and can also be felt in the neck.

Coital cephalalgia can appear suddenly and can be quite severe. This condition lasts from several minutes to several hours. In a minority of cases, complaints can also be felt for up to several days.

Often, coital cephalalgia does not require any specific treatment and can subside on its own. If the headache persists and is accompanied by other complaints such as stiffness in the neck, disorientation, or dizziness, there may be another accompanying disease. In these conditions, sufferers are advised to immediately consult a doctor directly, for further evaluation and determine possible causes and the most appropriate treatment.

Reason

Coital cephalalgia is generally experienced during or after sexual activity. The activities in question include masturbation, vaginal intercourse, anal sex, oral sex, and other types of sexual intercourse that end in an orgasm.

Several factors that are thought to increase the risk of coital cephalalgia are:

  • Gender. Men have a higher risk than women of experiencing coital cephalalgia.
  • History of migraine-type headaches. Someone with a history of migraine-type headaches has a higher chance of experiencing coital cephalalgia.

Symptom

There are three types that are quite typical of headaches associated with sexual activity, namely:

  • The first type. Generally, the pain is felt on both sides, especially on the back of the head. Pain often feels higher in intensity as sexual arousal increases.
  • The second type is a headache that appears suddenly and throbbing. Usually occurs just before or during an orgasm. This type of pain can also start at the back of the head and can spread throughout the head.
  • The third type is generally felt all over the head and is affected by position.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of coital cephalalgia is generally determined based on the results of a detailed medical interview and direct physical examination. In addition, certain supporting examinations can also be carried out if needed, such as:

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This examination can help identify any underlying causes of headaches.

The examination is carried out using a magnetic field and radio waves to produce images of the structures in the brain.

  • Computerized tomography (CT). This examination uses X-rays to produce images of the structure of the head and brain.
  • Cerebral angiogram. This examination can help assess and describe the condition of the arteries in the neck and brain.

In this procedure, a thin, flexible instrument is threaded through a vein, often from the thigh, to an artery in the neck. Then, a contrast dye is inserted through the tool, so that the X-ray device can produce images of the arteries in the neck and brain.

  • Lumbar function. This examination can be done if the headache appears suddenly and the imaging examination results show no abnormalities.

In this procedure, a small amount of the fluid covering the brain and spinal cord is removed and evaluated for infection or bleeding.

Handling

In most cases, coital cephalalgia generally does not require treatment and can subside on its own. However, if the doctor finds other causes of the condition of the neck and head blood vessels, then certain treatment is needed.

In such cases, the condition of the abnormality needs to be addressed first to address the real source of the problem. If no other problems are found, the doctor may suggest avoiding sexual activity temporarily as long as the pain is still being felt. Apart from that, doctors can also prescribe certain medications to reduce the pain you are experiencing.

Prevention

In individuals who experience coital cephalalgia, in general, doctors can recommend sexual activity with a lower intensity to prevent complaints from arising. Position adjustments during sexual activity also need to be tried to find out the best position that relieves pain complaints. Relaxation exercises or flexibility exercises such as yoga are good to do, to help reduce headache attacks.

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