Orgasmic cephalgia: an uncommon presentation

Abstract

Background: Orgasmic cephalgia is rare; but it is likely that its prevalence is underestimated because of patients\' arrière pensée when it comes to disclosing personal information concerning their sexual activities.
Aim: To report a case of orgasmic cephalgia in a 34-year-old housewife.
Method: All information was obtained from her medical records and investigation results. Relevant literature on headaches associated with sexual activity was also reviewed.
Result: Patient developed sudden onset severe headache at orgasm, which rapidly worsened over 6 months to the extent that she began to dread all forms of sexual activity. She had only used unprescribed medication. She responded well to naratriptan and anxiolytics. By the third month of treatment, her headaches had completely disappeared.
Conclusion: Most cases of orgasmic cephalgia are benign and probably do not require specific treatment. Triptans are useful for those that do not respond to conventional analgesics.


Keywords: Headache, Orgasm, Sexual activity, Triptans

Port Harcourt Medical Journal Vol. 2 (3) 2008: pp. 268-270