Yes! Yes! Oh, yes! Sex really does help relievemigraineattacks in some people.
But keep your knickers on, and don’t go throwing out your stash of Excedrin just yet. There’s a little more to it than just banging migraine away.
Based on what we know so far, it appears that migraine attacks andcluster headachescan be sexed into submission in some people.
There are also plenty of anecdotal reports of people who say that sex has relieved othertypes of headaches, too.
Before dropping trou’ and assuming position next time your head pounds, you should know that for some, sex can worsen or even trigger headaches. (More on that in a minute.)
This is the best part! Any kind of sex that gets you toorgasmis more likely to do it. This goes for partnered sex andsolo sex.
More research is needed to understand exactly how sex relieves headache pain, butorgasmseems to be the magic ingredient for most in this titillating headache remedy.
Researchers still aren’t exactly sure how sex relieves headaches, but suspect that the rush ofendorphinsduring arousal and orgasm play a role.
Endorphins are the brain’s natural pain reliever and act likeopioids.
According to theAssociation of Migraine Disorders, they provide rapid pain relief that’s even faster than IV morphine. Yes, please!
这些激增内啡肽当你打开could numb the pain of migraine attacks and other types of headaches.
There may be other physiological processes involved when it comes to sex and cluster headaches.
Some
You betcha! This actually isn’t the first time that sexual arousal andorgasmhave been linked to pain relief.
Being turned on — especially to the point of climax — has beenprovento relieve back pain, menstrual cramps, and even labor pain.
Doctors had suspected for years that sex could relieve migraine and cluster headaches, but only had a few case reports to go on.
In 2013, a
Based on the results of the study, 60 percent of the migraine-having participants reported that sexual activity gave them considerable or complete improvement of their migraine attacks.
同样的研究也显示that 37 percent of participants who experience cluster headaches reported that sexual activity improved their attacks.
Many of the participants said they used sex as a reliable therapeutic tool for migraine relief. Now that’s my kind of therapy!
You’re not alone. Sex doesn’t do the trick for everyone, and a lot of people report that touching and physical activity of any kind is the last thing they want during a migraine attack.
You could try a little gentle exploration if you want to give orgasm another chance to help your pain.
Try lying in a dark room and massaging any of yourerogenous zones. Use whatever speed or technique you’re comfortable with.
If it leads to arousal or orgasm, great! If not, it’ll at the very least help relax tense muscles.
If you’d rather not get busy when you’re dealing with a bad headache or just don’t find orgasm helpful, there are other things you can do forrelief.
这里有一些选项:
- Head to a dark and quiet place.Migraine attacks increase sensitivity to light and noise. Find a dark, quiet place to close your eyes and try to nap if you can.
- Try hot and cold therapy.Placing a cold compress on your forehead or behind your neck may numb the pain and relieve inflammation. A warm compress used the same way can help loosen tense muscles.
- Have some ginger.Ginger helps relieve nausea caused by migraine and other conditions. According to
research , powdered ginger can be as effective as the drugsumatriptanfor decreasing the severity and duration of migraine attacks. - Have a caffeinated drink.Having a small amount of caffeine in the early stages of a migraine attack can reduce pain. It can also enhance the effects of pain relievers like acetaminophen and aspirin.
- Talk to your doctor about preventative therapy.Depending on the frequency and severity of your migraine, your doctor may be able to prescribe medication to help prevent future migraine attacks.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but sex does trigger migraine attacks and other types of headaches in some people.
Why this happens isn’t completely understood yet, but researchers believe that it may have something to do with the involvement of muscle tissue in the back and neck when you get physical.
Another possible explanation is the relationship between stress, excitability, and mood.
In some people, sex also triggers other types of headaches that are referred to as — surprise — sex headaches.
There are two types of sex headaches: benign sexual headaches andorgasmic headaches.
People with migraine are more prone to sex headaches, but they can happen to anyone who’ssexually active, even if the only sex you’re having is withyourself.
If you notice that you often begin to experience symptoms of migraine shortly after having sex, that’s a pretty good indicator.
Actual sex headaches are easier to self-diagnose. These types of headaches come on hard and fast, unlike migraine attacks which have a more gradual onset.
Sex headaches are also pretty intense, and start at the most inopportune time — like while you’re in the throes of passion or just about to climax.
Symptoms to watch out for are:
- a dull ache in your head that intensifies as your sexual excitement increases
- a severe, throbbing headache just before or as you orgasm
The severe pain associated with sex headaches can last from a minute to around 24 hours, sometimes followed by milder pain that can linger for up to 72 hours.
Unlike with migraine, sex headaches usuallydon’tcauseaurasymptoms, like vision disturbances or nausea.
Sex and orgasm headaches aren’t usually serious but they can be a symptom of an underlying condition.
See a doctor if this is your first time getting a headache during sex or if you experience a severe headache that begins abruptly or lasts more than 24 hours.
In rare cases, a sex headache could be a sign of serious medical emergency, such asstroke.
Call your local emergency services or go to the nearest emergency room if your sex headache is accompanied by:
- loss of sensation
- muscle weakness
- vomiting
- loss of consciousness
- seizures
- partial or complete paralysis
You may feel anything but aroused when your head’s throbbing so bad that you might vomit, but sex could be the key to stopping a migraine attack in its tracks.
If you want to give this highly enjoyable remedy a try, ask your partner to lend a helping hand or letyour ownhands work some migraine magic.
Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a freelance writer and author who has written extensively on all things health and lifestyle for more than a decade. When she’s not holed-up in her writing shed researching an article or off interviewing health professionals, she can be found frolicking around her beach town with husband and dogs in tow or splashing about the lake trying to master the stand-up paddleboard.