"Sex Headache" is Generally Harmless, But in This Case, It Was a Sign of a Serious Illness


During a sexual activity, a 61-year-old woman experienced an intense headache. While this type of headache is usually common and harmless, in this case, it turned out to be a symptom of a potentially life-threatening condition.

Coital Cephalalgia

What is this headache that often occurs during sexual intercourse? It’s known as coital cephalalgia, or more simply, "sex headache." It is characterized by its sudden and intense onset. According to scientists, it is generally harmless and tends to disappear on its own. However, this does not rule out the possibility of more serious health conditions.

To diagnose a sex headache, the individual must experience headaches that intensify with sexual arousal or suddenly become severe at the moment of orgasm. Coital cephalalgia can last between 24 and 72 hours and affects between 0.25% and 1% of the global population.

She Was Actually Suffering from a Brain Hemorrhage

A case report details the experience of a 61-year-old woman seeking medical help for a severe headache that suddenly appeared during sexual activity. Described as a 10 out of 10 in intensity, the pain did not subside with painkillers. It was the visual disturbances that followed that prompted the woman to go to the hospital.

Upon examination, imaging tests revealed a right occipital brain hemorrhage. Despite extensive testing, no underlying cause was identified. Fortunately, the patient made a full recovery and regained her vision, along with overall good health after a year, without requiring ongoing treatment.


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