Sexual Health Overview (cont.)
Which medications commonly cause sex problems for men or women?
The most well-known are antidepressant drugs such as
Prozac, or tranquilizers, such as
Valium, both of which can impact desire in
both men and women. For women, certain
birth control pills can put a damper on
desire, as can some formulations of HRT used to treat
menopause symptoms. Drugs
known to increase the risk of impotency in men include certain high blood
pressure medications, antihistamines used for colds or allergies, some
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (like ibuprofen), heartburn drugs
such as Tagamet,
Zantac, and
Pepcid, some lipid-lowering drugs for cholesterol,
and certain medications used to treat Parkinson's disease or cancer.
Is it true that sex can actually give some people a headache?
Yes, it's true. Medically, the condition is known
as coital cephalalgia, and surprisingly, it affects men more often
than women -- surprising because in general women get more
headaches than men.
While no one is certain what's behind the problem, some say it may be related to
the sudden change in blood flow and subsequent drop in blood pressure following
orgasm. Others contend it may be the result of a release of adrenaline that
floods the body during periods of intense sexual activity. While some folks can
have sex headaches for several weeks followed by permanent remission, for others
the problem may come and go indefinitely, or sometimes be present with every
sexual encounter. Although you might not suffer from
migraine headaches, sex
headaches are thought to be chemically related and frequently respond to similar
treatments. One word of caution: Don't assume that a headache you experience after sex is a sex headache. Experts say sometimes,
benign lesions in the
brain or aneurysms (a blood vessel disorder) can also
cause headaches after sex. To rule out such problems, don't diagnose yourself --
see your doctor.
SOURCES: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia:
Sexual Problems Overview. Sexuality and Information Council of the United
States: Fact Sheet on Sexuality in Middle and Later Life. "The Too Fast Lane,"
MedicineNet.com. "Impotence: Signs and Symptoms Index," Medicine.com. "Erectile
Dysfunction," Medicinenet.com. "Sexual Dysfunction in Women: What Can I Do If
Sex Isn't Working For Me?" FamilyDoctor.org. WebMD Reference in collaboration
with The Cleveland Clinic: "Sexual Health: Vaginal Infections." Priapism, The
ClevelandClinic web site. "Curvature of the Penis," Medline Plus web site. "Penis Pain", Medline Plus.org
Medical Encyclopedia. Sexual Pain Disorder, MedicineNet.com. WebMD Reference in
collaboration with The Cleveland Clinic: "Sexual Health: Female Pain During
Sex." WebMD Feature: "A Woman's Guide to Revving Sex Drive." "Drugs That May
Cause Impotence," MedlinePlus.org. WebMD Medical News: "Orgasm Can Bring
Headache." WebMD Medical News: "Headaches After Sex."Retrodgrade Ejaculation,
Medical Encyclopedia, MedlinePlus.org.
WebMD Medical Reference
Reviewed by Jonathan L Gelfand, MD on January 24, 2008
© 2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
Last Editorial Review: 5/21/2008
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