Benign Headache Related to Sexual Activity

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 7(2); 1989 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 1989;7(2): 352-356.

성교시 동반된 양성 두통(7례의 임상적 고찰)

울산대학교 신경과. 서울중앙병원 신경과.

Benign Headache Related to Sexual Activity

Jong Sung Kim, M.D.

Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Asan Medical Center

Abstract

Seven patients who experienced headache related to sexual activity were reviewed. There were three males and four females with average age of 40. All patients experienced vascular-type headache during sexual excitement which were followed by prolonged tension-type headache in five cases. No evidence of any structural lesions was obtained on neurological examinations and appropriate investigations. One patient belongs to so called 'benign coital cephalgia', and one to 'exertional headache'. Although the others also had concomitant exertional headache, their sex-related headaches were different in nature from usual exertional headache. Two patients had histories of migraine. The patients were medicated with propranolol, amitriptyline or both ; all of them had favorabel responses. Possible pathogenesis of this disorder and problems in detecting the sufferers were discussed.