Migraines can be extremely debilitating and painful. As an Ayurvedic physician who treats headaches and migraines, patients often ask me if certain activities can help relieve or possibly trigger their migraine symptoms. One common question I receive is: can sex help cure a migraine?
As we explore this somewhat delicate topic, let’s first understand what happens during a migraine and why patients wonder if intimacy could alleviate their throbbing headaches. We’ll also analyze existing research on whether orgasms offer any proven migraine relief.
What Exactly are Migraine Headaches?
Before examining the potential impact intercourse may have, let’s review what migraines are in the first place.
Migraines are not your average tension headache. They are an intense pulsing or throbbing pain on one side of the head, usually accompanied by additional symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light, sound, touch, and smell.
Some migraine attacks can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours if untreated. The pain is often so severe that carrying out normal daily activities becomes impossible.
While migraines were once thought to originate from blood vessels dilating in the brain, modern research implicates neurological hyper-excitability and genetics as the true culprits.
In particular, a wave of excitement followed by depressed activity in pain centers of the brain stem seems to spark migraine episodes. Environmental triggers then further stimulate this abnormal neurological activity, causing a chronic pounding headache for sufferers.
What Triggers a Migraine?
Migraine symptoms can arise independently or get set off by a variety of triggers. Common triggers include,
- Stress, anxiety, excitement
- Certain foods like aged cheese, chocolate, nuts, caffeine, MSG, processed meats
- Hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle
- Changes in wake-sleep patterns like jet lag or sleep deprivation
- Dehydration
- Sensory overload from bright lights, loud sounds, strong smells
Because migraines often correlate with significant lifestyle, dietary, or bodily changes, patients naturally wonder – could sex also rouse a migraine attack?
Can Sex and Orgasms Cause or Cure Migraines?
Sex leads to multiple physical and emotional responses in the body that mimic common migraine triggers. So it’s understandable why patients often ask me “Will sex provide migraine relief or make my headache worse?”
Below I outline key research around this topic and offer my expert advice as a doctor.
Sex May Seem to Cause Migraines Due to Hormones
- Sex can increase prolactin and oxytocin which affect menstruation and headaches
- 48% of female migraineurs associate attacks with menstruation and fluctuating estrogen
- Sex leading up to menstruation when estrogen drops may seemingly trigger migraine
However, sex itself does not directly cause migraines. The hormonal impacts of intercourse before menstruation may increase migraine risk for those who already struggle with “menstrually related migraine” or MRM.
If you only experience migraines around your period, take note of when headaches correlate with sexual activity. Avoiding sex in the days leading up to menstruation may help reduce migraine attacks.
Arousal and Orgasm May Alleviate Migraine Symptoms
Now onto the central question at hand – can sex provide migraine relief?
- 60% of migraine patients report improvement in symptoms during sexual activity, per a 2019 study.
- Both sexual arousal and orgasm increase blood flow and activate parts of the brain involved in pain response.
- Endorphins and prolactin release may inhibit pain signals during and after sex.
The research indicates over half of migraine sufferers experience some improvement in their symptoms during intercourse and orgasm. Both arousal and climax appear beneficial.
So while sex doesn’t directly treat or cure migraines, the excitation and enjoyment seem to temporarily ease headache pain for many patients.
Partner Response Impacts on Migraine Relief from Sex
Seeking intimate physical contact is a natural response to discomfort or injury. When we experience duress or pain, hormones like oxytocin increase bonding behaviors with partners.
Therefore, your partner’s support and empathy during and after sex can impact perceived migraine relief as well.
Compassion from a spouse or significant other can make sexual arousal and orgasm seem more palliative. Research on partner relationships among those coping with chronic pain backs this up.
Conversely, an unsupportive or frustrated partner may diminish any positive impacts intercourse offers migraine patients. Make sure to communicate openly with your spouse about your symptoms and what helps alleviate your discomfort.
Practical Tips for Sex & Migraine Relief
While study data and patient surveys indicate some migraine relief potential from arousal and orgasm for many sufferers, intercourse can also trigger attacks for some.
Keep these tips in mind regarding intimacy and migraines.
- Have sex during non-migraine times to determine the impacts
- Note menstrual cycle position if female to spot hormone trigger patterns
- Ensure the bedroom is dark and quiet to avoid sensory activation
- Communicate openly with your partner about your migraine symptoms
- Try sexual stimulation or masturbation for standalone relief without partner pressure
- Use safe migraine treatments an hour before or after intercourse if concerned
Tracking details around sexual activities and their influence on your migraine attacks allows you to make informed decisions. Open conversations with partners also help them understand how to support you best.
Migraine relief from sex varies greatly from one patient to another based on the type of headache disorder, triggers, hormones, and relationship dynamics. Don’t hesitate to ask your doctor for personalized advice on managing intimacy with migraines.
The Bottom Line: Enjoy Sex Cautiously During Migraines
Research indicates sexual arousal and orgasm provide temporary pain relief for over half of migraine patients. However, hormonal impacts or partner relationship issues may also contribute to attacks around intercourse.
Therefore when suffering a migraine, I suggest enjoying sex cautiously. Pay attention to changes in headache symptoms before, during, and after being intimate. Avoid intercourse in the days before menstruation (if female). And communicate honestly with partners about what helps ease or worsen your discomfort.
While not a cure, arousal and climax may offer you a few precious hours of relief from migraine agony, yet don’t hesitate to utilize safe medical treatments as well if headaches persevere. With some vigilance, you can determine if sex helps dampen your migraine pain.
And remember your well-being involves a lot more than physical comfort. Nurturing intimacy and relationships remains vital, despite the challenges a condition like migraines brings. So focus on reducing headaches and prioritizing emotional health with supportive partners.
