Sex is generally synonymous with pleasure, but sometimes it can bring on headaches that are unpleasant at best. They’re known as sex headaches or orgasm headaches, but the scientific term is “primary headache associated with sexual activity”. And they don’t just kill the mood in the bedroom.

The resulting pain usually lasts at least a few minutes according to The Mayo Clinic, but it can be a matter of hours or even days. These headaches can happen regularly, occasionally, or even just once in a lifetime. A case report published in Medical Principles and Practice in 2013 estimated the prevalence of sex-related headaches at 1% to 1.6%, meaning they’re pretty rare all things considered.

What do people typically experience? Do we know what causes them? What should I do if I start getting sex headaches then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

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A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 26/10/2024

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