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What Causes Throbbing Headache After Having Sex?

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Posted on Tue, 24 Mar 2015
Question: First time i had a headache after having a sex. over last few months i had stress from work & had sex quite frequently. now, last time when i had sex, throbbing headache starts. i am unable to sleep, focus on things & sensitive to lights (computer screens/mobile/tv). i have found this article on website & thinking that my problem might be related to this

Masturbation and orgasms deplete the brain and spinal fluids of acetylcholine, dopamine and serotonin. Also diminished are hormones such as hGH, DHEA, testosterone, thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3), all neurotransmitters that are responsible for human functioning. All very important when it comes to sex. This deficiency melts the brain’s acetylcholine/parasympathetic, dopamine and serotonin nervous functions along with the endocrine functions. The damage results in symptoms of bladder and prostate problems; frequent urination, incontinency, semen leakage, enlarged prostate, etc…

People also experience hair loss as a result of masturbating way too frequently and they have no idea why. Young men especially wonder why they are losing hair. The answer lays in the imbalances of the body’s nutrients and hormones that over-masturbation produces. Over-conversion of testosterone into DHT leads to excessive DHT binding to the root of hair cells, blocking them from growing and cutting off supplies of nutrients and proteins, causing the hair to become thin and eventually stop growing altogether.

Frequent ejaculation also depletes the body of serotonin, causing an imbalance of it and melatonin. Melatonin is the chemical that controls your biological clock and tells you when to sleep and when to get sleepy. Serotonin, on the other hand, is responsible for fighting stress and anxiety as well as focus and concentration. It gets turned into melatonin for sleep and recharging. People who over-masturbate tend to experience a lack of concentration and fatigue. This is a direct result of depleting their bodies of serotonin.

if you thing this theory is valid. could you please suggest me any medication ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Article has no scientific basis.

Detailed Answer:
Reading your question I understand that you are concerned that hypersexuality has led to increased anxiety levels and hair loss. I am using the term hypersexuality because that seems to be what you think to have, but that’s a very controversial term as there is no exact definition on how much sex or masturbation is too much, actually there is no consensus whether there is such an issue.

I read that article you brought to my attention but I wouldn’t draw many conclusions from it. To be honest I have never heard of those theories and they don’t make much sense to me. I wonder what site did you find that article, I would be surprised if it was a respected scientific site. The way different neurotransmitter systems interact with each other are very intricate and not as simple and direct as that article would make it look like. It’s a matter of a delicate balance on many levels which is not always well understood despite the advances of modern medicine.

I would invite you to look at your sexual behavior not as a cause but as a symptom. It is not a behavior which changes neurotransmitter and hormonal levels but the other way around, neurotransmitter/hormonal alterations are expressed with behavior changes. So increased sexual drive can just be a manifestation of a psychiatric condition manifested also with anxiety like borderline personality disorder, hypomania/mania in bipolar disorder etc.

As for that hair loss part there is no scientific base for that at all, testosterone levels are related to hair loss but they are genetically determined, certainly not by masturbation frequency.

Regarding the headaches you are experiencing, looks more like tension type headache often related to anxiety treated with over the counter painkillers like Ibuprofen. If they are repeatedly related to sexual activity then it could be a case of headache related to sexual activity, for that particular type of headache a class of drugs called triptans are more effective in stopping the pain. Another possibility if headaches have started after initiating escitalopram that might be viewed as another cause as it causes headache in a percentage of patients.

I think the medication type you have started is adequate and if ineffective dose can be increased. If as I said escitalopram is a potential trigger of the headache it can be interrupted and continued at higher doses of amitriptyline. Also psychotherapy like cognitive-behavioral therapy is helpful. Also try exercise, yoga and meditation.

I hope to have been of help.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Olsi Taka (1 hour later)
Thanks for the reply
i am a software eng. the problem started with just pulse in the head as soon as i used to see the computer screen in the last week of XXXXXXX i was unable to work because of the pulasation & i am off from the work since then. first two weeks doctor put me on Verapamil ER 240 mg (once a day)as my bp is mostly between 130-135/ 80-90.He said i had migraine. i showed just a little progress but was still unable to see computer screen then i changed my neurologist & he put me on
1.Tramadol/APAP 37.5 mg/325 mg 3 times a day for first 6 days( pain killer)
2.Amitriptyline 10 mg - one table at bed time for wekk after that 2 tablets at bed time
3. Escitaloprm 10 mg - 1/2 tablet for one week then 1 tablet
4.Methylprednisolone tablets (21 tablets) one week course

i strated this medication & on the third day of medication i started to have sever Migraine attacks. i had a cold shower or may be medicine caused it. after words i had it continuously for four days. Since then i don't have headache but m very much sensitive to noise & lights which can trigger the headache suddenly.

then i met doctor again & he changed my painkiller Acetsminophen/cod #3(300/30) as needed which i haven't taken upto yet.

he asked me to take Lorazepam 0.5 mg (half teblet)at bed times & countinued Escitalopram , Amitriptyline 10 mg.

I have been taking medicine from last 5 days but i couldn't see any progress at all. I am on work visa & i can't stay any longer without pay. IF you can suggestion any medication that would be great. else any notes which i can give to my physician as i am thinking to change neurologist once again.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (34 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Migraine most probable cause.

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for providing more info on your condition and its evolution in time, it's all making much more sense now.

By what you report and the normal MRI, I would also put the diagnosis of a migraine as the most probable one. Migraine can have several triggers light being one of them which is unfortunate considering your profession. Of course stress and anxiety also do play a role in exacerbating migraine attacks.

Treatment consists in treating the acute attacks and preventive treatment. I understand that preventive treatment is very important for you at this point considering your job and your work visa situation. The problem is that while there are many existing therapies for migraine prophylaxis their effect usually takes some time and different therapies are more effective in different patients. So I understand that you want a quick solution, but usually some time is needed and different regimens might be needed to be tried.
Verapamil was a sensible option. Amitriptyline is a first line drug as well, if you were my patient I would use it alone (without escitalopram) at a 25mg dosage. As I said even if effective can take some time, several weeks. If that doesn't work other alternatives are antiepileptics like valproic acid or topiramate.

As for treatment of acute attack, if the painkillers you have been given are not effective the triptan class (zolmitriptan, sumatriptan etc) are used at good effect.

I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Olsi Taka (20 hours later)
once again appreciate your reply !

Initially i used to have just pulse/ throbbing headache after having sex for a while which used to fed away but in the middle i had a mild headache which lasts continuously for few days then it went away.After few weeks it came back when i used to work continuously on computer or XXXXXXX Next morning used to fade away. From 01-26-2015 i felt pulse in my head while working & after having sex i felt headache. from next morning 01-27-2016 i am unable to work on computer. since then intensity is been increasing. from 02-02-2014 till 02-19-2015 i was on virapamill which reduce my pulse frequency as sometime i used to feel pulse whole day before but no headache but i had double vision which i din't have before.

I met to another neurologist on 02-17-2015 who put me on couple of medications which gave me sever headache..
1.Tramadol/APAP 37.5 mg/325 mg 3 times a day for first 6 days( pain killer)
2.Amitriptyline 10 mg - one table at bed time for week after that 2 tablets at bed time
3. Escitaloprm 10 mg - 1/2 tablet for one week then 1 tablet
4.Methylprednisolone tablets (21 tablets) one week course


...now i have double vision, very high sensitivity to light & noises, a mild headache almost whole day which i never had before.


last night as you recommended to increase the does of Amitriptyline 25 mg i felt sick.Usually take it in the ngiht & always feel more sick after having it.

i take Escitalopram 10 mg during the day & i feel okay.

Now, please recommend me what should i do? should i take triptans along with these medication? since being on recent medication i feel sick everyday..no improvement at all. Can you send prescription remotely ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (36 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Read below.

Detailed Answer:
No it is not possible to send prescription remotely. Even if I did I doubt regulations in US would allow a prescription from a non US licensed doctor. And anyway it is against the policy of this site to prescribe drugs, which is understandable since an online consult can be no substitute for a complete visit with physical examination.

From what you added to your story I still believe migraine is the cause. Prior to the MRI other more serious conditions might have been feared but a normal MRI fortunately has excluded that possibility. Triggering of the pain by lights, exertion (sex included), stress is a common phenomenon. Judging for the therapies you have been given that was the opinion of your doctors although they used different medication, as I told you there are different classes of migraine prevention drugs with variable efficacy in different people.

As for the triptans, they are recommended but not on a regular basis, only to treat an acute attack not for its prevention.

I understand that you do not tolerate well Amitriptyline. In that case since you've been taking the low dose for 2 weeks with no improvement and higher doses produce side effects, I don't think much is to be expected from that treatment.

The three main options for migraine prevention are antihypertensives (like verapamil, propranolol), antidepressants (like amitriptyline, escitalopram) or antiepileptics (like valproic acid or topiramate). Since the first two seem not to have given satisfactory results an antiepileptic might be tried. They are prescription drugs though so you'll have to contact a physician.

That is what I would recommend medication-wise.

On the other hand though seeing as you have been switching several drugs in a relatively short period of time, before jumping to another drug I would try getting a break from drugs altogether. There is a type of headache called medication overuse headache, you don't fulfill its criteria because it need medication use for a longer time and not usually related to what you've used, but I'm mentioning it to show that at times too many drugs can disrupt our balances and not be as beneficial as we hope them to be. So I would consider a period of abstinence from medication, try to get out as much as possible, try light exercise, yoga etc. I hope I am making sense to you.

If that fails or you want to try one more time preventive treatment, as I said I would consider antiepileptics.

I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Olsi Taka

Neurologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 3673 Questions

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What Causes Throbbing Headache After Having Sex?

Brief Answer: Article has no scientific basis. Detailed Answer: Reading your question I understand that you are concerned that hypersexuality has led to increased anxiety levels and hair loss. I am using the term hypersexuality because that seems to be what you think to have, but that’s a very controversial term as there is no exact definition on how much sex or masturbation is too much, actually there is no consensus whether there is such an issue. I read that article you brought to my attention but I wouldn’t draw many conclusions from it. To be honest I have never heard of those theories and they don’t make much sense to me. I wonder what site did you find that article, I would be surprised if it was a respected scientific site. The way different neurotransmitter systems interact with each other are very intricate and not as simple and direct as that article would make it look like. It’s a matter of a delicate balance on many levels which is not always well understood despite the advances of modern medicine. I would invite you to look at your sexual behavior not as a cause but as a symptom. It is not a behavior which changes neurotransmitter and hormonal levels but the other way around, neurotransmitter/hormonal alterations are expressed with behavior changes. So increased sexual drive can just be a manifestation of a psychiatric condition manifested also with anxiety like borderline personality disorder, hypomania/mania in bipolar disorder etc. As for that hair loss part there is no scientific base for that at all, testosterone levels are related to hair loss but they are genetically determined, certainly not by masturbation frequency. Regarding the headaches you are experiencing, looks more like tension type headache often related to anxiety treated with over the counter painkillers like Ibuprofen. If they are repeatedly related to sexual activity then it could be a case of headache related to sexual activity, for that particular type of headache a class of drugs called triptans are more effective in stopping the pain. Another possibility if headaches have started after initiating escitalopram that might be viewed as another cause as it causes headache in a percentage of patients. I think the medication type you have started is adequate and if ineffective dose can be increased. If as I said escitalopram is a potential trigger of the headache it can be interrupted and continued at higher doses of amitriptyline. Also psychotherapy like cognitive-behavioral therapy is helpful. Also try exercise, yoga and meditation. I hope to have been of help.