The surprising cure for migraines with no side effects… you don’t need a doctor and it’s free!
Having regular orgasms may help alleviate debilitating migraines that millions of Americans experience on a near-daily basis.
A migraine is a neurological condition that causes severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head.
More than just a typical headache, migraine, which affects about 39 million Americans, can worsen with movement, lights and sounds and cause nausea, vomiting, numbness in limbs and vision changes.
The severity of the pain caused from migraines may vary from person to person, however, they can spread from the head to around the eyes, face, sinuses, jaw and neck and can interfere with regular life.
A migraine attack can last for hours to days.
While treatments such as over-the-counter and prescription pain relievers and lifestyle changes can help deal with the pain, experts say any kind of sexual activity during a migraine or cluster headache – painful headaches that last a few hours and occur in clusters – can also relieve the ache.
Doctors theorize the release of several ‘happy hormones’ such as dopamine, serotonin, endorphins that are produced during sexual activity can help relieve pressure and stop the throbbing.
A 2013 study from the University of Munster in Germany found 60 percent of people reported an improvement of their migraine attack after participating in some of form of sexual activity.
Having an orgasm may help you get rid of that days-long migraine
The neurologists sent a questionnaire to 306 migraine patients and 96 cluster headache patients who had been treated over a two-year period.
The participants were asked to answer eight questions, including whether they had any experience with sexual activity during a headache attack.
A deep analysis into their answers showed out of the 34 percent of people who had experience with sexual activity during a migraine attack, 60 percent saw their attacks improve.
Out of this, 43 percent of people with migraines found their headache changed shortly after orgasm or maximal excitement, about 18 percent reported the change with the time of orgasm, 20 percent found the change at the beginning of sexual activity while another 20 percent had the change within 30 minutes of orgasm or maximal excitement.
In the case of cluster headaches, out of the 31 percent of the patients that had experience with sexual activity during an attack, 37 percent reported an improvement.
While researchers are yet to discover the exact cause of migraines, some believe that specific nerves in the blood vessels can send pain signals to the brain.
This releases inflammatory substances into the head’s nerves and blood vessels – causing a strong throbbing or pulsing pain.
Stress, anxiety and emotional triggers can also release chemicals in the brain that contribute to migraines.
According to Dr Megan Donnelly, a neurologist and headache specialist with Novant Health in Charlotte, North Carolina who was not involved in the study, orgasms and pain affect the same areas of the brain.
She explained that orgasms stimulate the production of endorphins, which are natural pain relievers in the body.
The release of endorphins from sex can be a powerful distraction as well as give relief from the pain of a migraine.
During a migraine attack, people may have lower levels of certain neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. Both of these neurotransmitters are released during sexual activity and can improve the ache.
The release of endorphins from sex can be a powerful distraction as well as give relief from the pain of a migraine
However, the study also found 33 percent of people who suffered from migraines and 50 percent of people with cluster headaches saw their condition worsen after sexual activity.
Dr. Donnelly noted: ‘Although 60 percent of migraine patients surveyed reported an improvement in their headaches with sexual activity, one-third of those with migraines found their headaches worsened with sex.’
A 2019 study published in the Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology found 78 percent of people living with migraines – mostly women – also experienced sexual dysfunction.
Additionally, the longer the duration of migraines and the more frequent they were, the lower the sexual functioning among migraine sufferers.
The neurologist told MDLink: ‘Treating migraines may positively impact sexual dysfunction, but individual responses can vary.’
According to the expert, some migraine sufferers may also be experiencing a condition called sex headache.
Pictured: Dr Megan Donnelly, a woman’s neurologist and headache specialist with Novant Health in Charlotte, North Carolina
Headaches associated with sexual activity, sometimes called ‘orgasm headaches’ or ‘sex headaches,’ can range from mild to severe and occur during or after sexual activity, often around the time of orgasm.
According to Medical News Today, orgasms can rapidly increase blood pressure which can cause blood vessels in the head to dilate. This can trigger sudden, intense headaches in some people.
In most cases, they are considered benign and do not have an underlying cause, however, at times sex headaches can be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as problems with blood vessels in the brain.
These kind of headaches occurs four times more often in men and people are usually in their 40s when it first happens, according to a 2010 study published in The Journal of Headache and Pain.
