Now that I got your attention with that special word, read this article below as seen in today's news... ;)

-Gregg in Las Vegas

Sex may be a natural way to treat migraines, cluster headaches

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Having sex may be the solution to curing a splitting headache.

Researchers from the University of Munster in Germany have found that sexual activity was successful in treating migraines in 60 percent sufferers and in one-third of patients with cluster headaches.

"Our data suggest...that sexual activity can lead to partial or complete relief of headache in some migraine and a few cluster headache patients," wrote the authors of the study, published Feb. 19 in Cephalagia.

"Our results show that sexual activity during a migraine attack might relieve or even stop an attack in some cases, and that sexual activity in the presence of headache is not an unusual behavior," they added.

Migraines are a kind of throbbing headache that may cause nausea, vomiting or sensitivity to light. Some people get a warning symptom like vision disturbances called an aura before the headache hits. Migraines occur more often in women than men and may run in families. Some women say they have less migraines when they are pregnant.

Cluster headaches differ from migraines, and are characterized by chronic, one-sided headaches that can include eye tearing, steady burning and sharp sensations, and stuffy noses. They can occur regularly during one week to one year, and may be spaced out by attack-free periods. A cluster headache can begin as a severe, sudden headache often around the same time of the day you had the last one. They happen more often in men than women and may run in families.

The researchers looked at 800 patients with migraines and 200 patients with cluster headaches. Patients were asked to complete a questionnaire about their sexual activity during their headache episodes and write how sex affected the pain.

About one-third of the patients said they had sex during a migraine or a cluster headache. Sixty percent of migraine sufferers who had sex said they had some sort of pain relief, with most of them reporting moderate or complete alleviation of their symptoms. Some participants -- mostly men -- admitted to using sex as a way to treat the migraines. For one-third of the migraine patients who had sex, the pain got worse.

Thirty-seven percent of cluster headache patients said sex helped lessen the pain, with 90 percent of those patients who had sex saying they experienced moderate to complete relief of headaches. However, 50 percent of them said sex only made headaches worse.

Study researcher Stefan Evers, a neurologist and headache specialist at the University of Munster in Germany, told LiveScience that sex releases endorphins, which are natural painkillers. Other studies have shown that sex can alleviate migraines, but the studies were done on a smaller scale. Evers suggested that masturbation or any sexual activity may be able to get rid of headaches in some people.

"Having an orgasm in any way shape or form will help (them)," he said.

Humm can't says i've ever tried that, well at least during CH.
Could see that being a bit uncomfortable for both parties, well at least duning a nasty CH anyway.
I do know I've had CH after doing the duty, however more than likely CH was due to come, usually in the 1am-2am range.
But whatever, I am definately sending the article to the wife!!!! as this is a treatment I can definately get to like!!

I've heard people claim it helps....and I've heard people say it's a trigger....

Me? Last cycle it was one hell of a trigger....but never had been before. Go figure....

I saw the article (or at least something similar) here in NZ too.

Must admit I've never tried this as a solution to either a CH or migraine and I'm not quite sure how I'd be able to concentrate on the task at hand in the midst of a CH. Oxygen is a bit easier to manage, especially when out and about!

I am eagerly awaiting how my girlfriend will react to this.

Globi wrote on Mar 7^th, 2013 at 7:44am:

I am eagerly awaiting how my girlfriend will react to this.

My wife was sadly unimpressed with the study! ;D

It has been discussed here off and on over the years. For some an abortive, for some a trigger, for some it makes no difference! The beauty of the beast!

joe

Guiseppi wrote on Mar 7^th, 2013 at 9:11am:

Globi wrote on Mar 7th, 2013 at 7:44am: I am eagerly awaiting how my girlfriend will react to this. My wife was sadly unimpressed with the study! ;D It has been discussed here off and on over the years. For some an abortive, for some a trigger, for some it makes no difference! The beauty of the beast! joe

Maybe i keep it in mind as a beautiful idea for the future. A dream.  I think she will react as your wife did ;)

Next to this i am not so sure it really works. I had oncoming attacks during......and had to abort....and not the headache.

How did your wife handle your pain? 

I am fortunate in that my wife is the worlds greatest supporter and truth be told if she thought it would abort an attack she'd try ANYTHING!!! I'm with you though, I fear an attack would negate any ability on my part to abort with this system! ::)

Joe

Guiseppi wrote on Mar 7^th, 2013 at 1:06pm:

I am fortunate in that my wife is the worlds greatest supporter and truth be told if she thought it would abort an attack she'd try ANYTHING!!! I'm with you though, I fear an attack would negate any ability on my part to abort with this system! ::) Joe

It's a very though thing to understand for a partner who does not understand what you feel. Hats off for your wife.

Globi

LasVegas wrote on Mar 6^th, 2013 at 1:03pm:

...Thirty-seven percent of cluster headache patients said sex helped lessen the pain, with 90 percent of those patients who had sex saying they experienced moderate to complete relief of headaches. However, 50 percent of them said sex only made headaches worse.

I'm having trouble getting the math to work out here...

Regards,
Jim

Kilowatt3 wrote on Mar 7^th, 2013 at 11:05pm:

LasVegas wrote on Mar 6th, 2013 at 1:03pm: ...Thirty-seven percent of cluster headache patients said sex helped lessen the pain, with 90 percent of those patients who had sex saying they experienced moderate to complete relief of headaches. However, 50 percent of them said sex only made headaches worse. I'm having trouble getting the math to work out here... Regards, Jim

Poorly worded for a study, but I believe what they are saying is that in the 37% of patients who said that it helped lessen the pain, 90% [of the 37%] experienced moderate to complete relief of pain. So, in the study, essentially 33.3% of patients experienced moderate to complete pain relief, and 3.7% of patients experienced slight pain relief. However, 50% of patients indicated that sex only made their headaches worse, so I'm assuming that the remaining 13% of people that participated in the study had neither an increase, nor a decrease, in pain level.

What this study is lacking is a control group - though I'm unsure of how they would implement that?

For me sex DOES work.

I believe the reason it works (for some) is that it changes hypothalamic electrical activity (some researcher actually said that orgasm is sort of "restarting the hypothalamus").   

I'm happy to assist any of our ladies who would like to consider this treatment.

Do not send cash. It's a free service purely in the interests of science.

This has also been mentioned as a treatment for gout.

ezinearticles.com/?Sex-As-a-Natural-Treatment-For-Gout&id=4885932

The last paragraph is perhaps most important as it address' how CH sufferers are often looked upon by the attending pysician.

Peace Of Mind

AussieBrian wrote on Mar 13^th, 2013 at 11:15pm:

I'm happy to assist any of our ladies who would like to consider this treatment. Do not send cash. It's a free service purely in the interests of science.

Brian, you are a man among men, a true, big hearted philanthropist, with a giving heart second to none! ;D

Joe

I second Joe's comment regarding Brian's selflessness. Some people are just born better than the rest of us.

As a non-scientist I can of course only go by personal experience. My recent cycle, the first in 5 years, was preceded by a few scary foreshocks. The most powerful of these occurred at the worst possible moment with my girlfriend. Once the cycle began this has happened again a couple more times.

So I'm glad that sex is a Kip-killer for so many people, and clearly it's working on a level I don't understand. As a layman (heh-heh) I would sort of assume that the increased heart rate and blood flow would cause all kinds of increased vessel dilations throughout the body, including of course the head, which could serve to exacerbate symptoms of CH. In fact I could practically feel the pain beginning as things, er, heated up for us.

Guess I drew the short straw on this particular phenomenon. Oh well.

David

Do I get to have my non-rebreather on while I try this?

Balanchine wrote on Mar 15^th, 2013 at 12:49pm:

I second Joe's comment regarding Brian's selflessness. Some people are just born better than the rest of us. As a non-scientist I can of course only go by personal experience. My recent cycle, the first in 5 years, was preceded by a few scary foreshocks. The most powerful of these occurred at the worst possible moment with my girlfriend. Once the cycle began this has happened again a couple more times. So I'm glad that sex is a Kip-killer for so many people, and clearly it's working on a level I don't understand. As a layman (heh-heh) I would sort of assume that the increased heart rate and blood flow would cause all kinds of increased vessel dilations throughout the body, including of course the head, which could serve to exacerbate symptoms of CH. In fact I could practically feel the pain beginning as things, er, heated up for us. Guess I drew the short straw on this particular phenomenon. Oh well. David

mmm, maybe their ahem, reservoir, holds enough blood to induce vasoconstriction throughout the rest of the body. Some people are just plain born lucky... Then there is also the angry monkey.

Here's a really easy to understand expose about vasodilation/constriction:

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It talks about blowing off CO2, which is probably why so many of you all have found relief with O2, as well as NO, which is a real good cell mediator; kind of helps you maintain appropriate vascular elasticity.

IF you're really interested in this stuff, then look up some details about how males maintain erections and the side effects produced. I happen to find it very intriguing...

Peace Of Mind

It does not work for me.  ;)

When in cycle, sex would often bring on an attack, and we would have to stop to get the non re-breather on. Not sexy...

Jeffire wrote on Mar 15^th, 2013 at 2:06pm:

Do I get to have my non-rebreather on while I try this?

Jeff, do you guys have your own magazines and internet groups?

I saw the title and opened the thread to see if there was a definition available.  I'm not familiar with the word!   

jc

we all know that CH is due to a blood vessel dilating around the temples (one side usually). Maybe the fact that for a man, getting an erection involves an increased blood flow to  the penis, it reduces the blood pressure to other blood vessels. Same for a woman, there is an increased flow of blood to the female  genitals during sexual arousal.
I'm not sure about this at all, just something i thought about.
One thing that definitely triggered attacks for me is the very seldom use (in the past) of a Viagra like substance to increase length of fun time, let's just say that it did the complete opposite as the pain of the attack rendered me incapable of having sex.   >:(
I won't be touching that stuff again.

  Worst Clusters I ever had were immediately post sex.  This was years ago and not on any meds.   I don't have sex any more and am on meds, clusters are a rare occurrence.   

Weird.. I do remember getting an erection a few different times during a cluster. It wasnt like i was doing anything to egg it on, it just happened.. It just seemed to be a sympton of the cluster i thought. I never investagated it for whatever reasons. But i can say this 100% without doubt that even with a rageing boner the last thing that came to my mind during a cluster was trying to have sex. No way!! No how!! I can barely even muster a thought other than OMG!!!! make it stop!!!  let alone have sex.


Play Ball,
Coach Bill

Callico wrote on Mar 19^th, 2013 at 12:46am:

I saw the title and opened the thread to see if there was a definition available.  I'm not familiar with the word!    jc

Yeah Jerry...I been wondering too! Let me know when you find out!? Best I can figure is it's Spanish for 6...which totally explains why Tiger Woods got in so much trouble.... a professional golfer shooting 6's...unacceptable!

..last time I got my hair cut...I was waiting on the couch...reading Redbook...ummm, the other choices being Glamour and El. Finished the VERY interesting articles on makeup and diets...was finally getting to the article titled "Sex-What You Need To Know"..when I got called. Expressed my disappointment..."shoot, now I'll never know"... when the nail lady said..."oh don't worry honey, it's WAY overrated!" So I guess it's ok......

Best

j  :-?

Jon,

Thanks. I needed that!

jc

PS.  It has something to do with the dangly bits, I've heard.  I'd keep them away from cats if I were you.

jon019 wrote on Mar 19^th, 2013 at 9:13pm:

Best I can figure is it's Spanish for 6...which totally explains why Tiger Woods got in so much trouble.... a professional golfer shooting 6's...unacceptable!

Not sure if it's Spanish as when anyone from Australia says the number 6 it sure sounds the same. Mind you, any Kiwi saying the same word and it comes out as "sucks".

Mike NZ wrote on Mar 22^nd, 2013 at 12:01am:

Mind you, any Kiwi saying the same word and it comes out as "sucks".

This may explain the hilarity when a Kiwi says '69' in an Aussie pub.

To this day I don't understand the joke.

I hope I'm not posting this twice , I must of got flustered and hit wrong button , my post dissapeared. Anyways it did not help me ,pain stayed same before and after the orgasm, but I have to say for that precious moment I foregot all about the pain. :) :) :-[

Then for that one "precious moment" it was worth it! ;)

Joe

[quote author=787F6263757779627C100 link=1362593001/28#28 date=1364089617]I hope I'm not posting this twice , I must of got flustered and hit wrong button , my post dissapeared. Anyways it did not help me ,pain stayed same before and after the orgasm, but I have to say for that precious moment I foregot all about the pain. :) :) :-[/quote]

aw now look what you've done. now I gotta go take a cold shower.

Hey all....
Since were having an "Adult" conversation here i have to say that sex was the best abortive that i ever had but theirs  a catch. It would not work for me with normal sex it had to be oral sex so there was no strenuous work on my part as that would make them worse right away but with oral sex it only took a minute or two and i could feel the CH melt away and this would work even in the middle of a K-10 cluster. I have been reading a bit about this using sex as an abortive and it seems that around 50% get relief but i bet they aren't using the oral sex method.
So i know this will make alot of guys and gals happy to try this so HAVE FUN Clusterville!!..... ;)

good try cluster"man" for trying to give men a "heads up" for a sympathy freebie . I can assure you I was the only one in the room and there was little work on my part, the pain remained the same. lmao :-[ ;)

Nothing works for everyone and this is no sympathy freebie. It truly worked for me and has worked for many and this isn't a one sided story as it works for women too and i have talked to several women C heads that were helped by this so I am very sorry that it didn't work for your guy but that doesn't mean it won't work for others.... :)

oh my god I was just playing with you, jeeese!. anything is worth a try exspecialy in the sex department. I was trying to have fun with ya I'm in a good mood ,I've been pain free for well cluster free for 4 days and nights, think my cycles ending. :) :P

Good going, horsegirl. Hope it gallops away and don't come back no more!

No Worries!!
Just trying to push my point...
Hope your pain free time continues! ;)
Wishing you the best! :)

Hmm....I'm a migrainer married to a clusterhead and I can promise you, sex in any form or fashion was not even in the ball park.  Not even afterward, when the pain was gone.

Everyone is different...Sorry it didn't work for you... :(

Unless my attack is extremely severe (e.g my brain only thinks "bash your head on the wall") This helps immensely.

If I get the kinda pain where I have to pace around but it's not bad enough to be a full blown "my day is ruined" attack, firing off some knuckle children makes the headache disappear. I've always thought it had to do with the sudden release of endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin

Clusterman59 wrote on Mar 26^th, 2013 at 6:44pm:

Hey all.... Since were having an "Adult" conversation here i have to say that sex was the best abortive that i ever had but theirs  a catch. It would not work for me with normal sex it had to be oral sex so there was no strenuous work on my part as that would make them worse right away but with oral sex it only took a minute or two and i could feel the CH melt away and this would work even in the middle of a K-10 cluster. I have been reading a bit about this using sex as an abortive and it seems that around 50% get relief but i bet they aren't using the oral sex method. So i know this will make alot of guys and gals happy to try this so HAVE FUN Clusterville!!..... ;)

This is pretty epic. I cannot wait to tell my spouse that people find relief like this. LOL

Reading this topic got me thinking,  hmmmm,  I think I will give this a try.  Hubby was at work, so I took care of things myself,  it got rid of heavy shadows for a few hours.!!!!!  Then I tried again, and it worked again!!!  However,  there would be NO WAY, I could ever handle sex during an attack,  I dont understand how anyone ever could.  I can barely see my tank, and the only thing I can think is,  ohhh ouch, please stop,   not "oh yeah, dont stop"  .
My advice, try it for shadows,  it def helped. :-*

Kinda what my wife said. Thats nice, glad your hand works and and don't shake the bed too much.   ;D

To answer the original question - YES, it definitely helps. In fact, I've been using that method exclusively for the last few years. See here:

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I have since modified the technique and don't use oxygen at all. It stands there as a backup.
I've also started using this as a preventive, not just abortive, with great results. I'll probably post something later about it.

And of course some people here will make jokes about this, especially the ones uncomfortable with their sexuality, that's normal. I don't care, as long as it helps.

Bob Johnson's find puts the vascular concept out the window.  See his post here:  START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

For those of you who find relief, more power to you.  I'm convinced it is the principle of focused attention that is working for you.  the mind can only focus on one thing at a time, which is the principle behind the La Maze method of childbirth.  My wife and I have use it 5 times, and I can assure you it works.  It doesn't totally work for CH though, because the hit comes on to fast to get ahead of it.  i do use some of those principles on hits that stay below a K7, but sex is out of the question  The big head hurts to badly for the little head to care.

Jerry

Hmm...  it seems to help me if started right at the beginning of a minor shadow.  But if it's a full-blown CH, don't look at me, don't talk to me, and sure as hell don't touch me.

Callico - the reason why it's so hard to get sexually aroused during an attack may be the exact reason why it changes the course of an attack.

Sexual arousal involves mechanisms that compete with the CH over the autonomic nervous system and probably over Nitric oxide. An orgasm, seems to do even more - some researchers speculated that it sort of "restart" the hypothalamus.   

So, it is very natural that sex during an attack seems like an out of the question idea. But I can say it's possible, and sometimes pretty effective.

Hi jish,
I thought you might enjoy reading this thread lol.

Hoppy.

Certainly not as straightforward as "cum and go" for CH in my experience. I have witnessed it "backfire" many times.