sexual activity would nevertheless be a good remedy for headaches

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In 2013, a German team from the Department of Neurology at the University of Münster tackled the subject of headache and sex by sending a questionnaire to patients suffering from two types of headache: migraine in one case and in the other, the very painful facial headache (a neurological disorder characterized by intense and sudden painful attacks affecting one side of the face).

Result: among migraine patients, while a third noted a worsening after sexual intercourse, two-thirds reported an improvement. In the “facial pain” group, the same observation: a portion (37%) also reported progress, following sexual intercourse. All of this data actually suggests that sexual activity can lead to partial or complete relief from headaches. At least in certain patients.

Endorphins as painkillers

The explanation is called endorphin, a neurochemical substance – often called the feel-good or pleasure hormone – released by the brain after orgasm. Like an opioid, it will act against pain, associated in this case with headache. And this is all the easier since the brain centers of orgasm and pain are partly the same, particularly at the cortex and the hypothalamus.

By the way, endorphin would not be the only one to intervene. Indeed, during a migraine attack, levels of dopamine and serotonin, two neurotransmitters also associated with well-being, generally appear at their lowest. Before going back up during sexual activity. And relieve many ailments.

Forget the pain…

However, as the German study showed, sexual activity as a remedy for migraine does not work in all patients. As the authors recommend: “If you are willing to experiment to see if sexual activity improves or worsens your migraine attack, do so gradually.” For example, by extending foreplay.

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