Differential Diagnosis for Headache with Intercourse
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Tension headache or migraine: These are common types of headaches that can be triggered by physical activity, including intercourse, due to increased muscle tension or other factors.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Coital cephalalgia (coital headache): A specific type of headache that occurs during or after sexual activity, believed to be related to increased intracranial pressure or muscle contraction.
- Cervicogenic headache: Headaches that originate from the cervical spine, which can be exacerbated by certain positions or movements during intercourse.
- Hypnic headache: Although less directly related, if intercourse leads to sleep or relaxation, it could potentially trigger a hypnic headache in susceptible individuals.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage: A life-threatening condition that could present with a sudden, severe headache, potentially triggered by the physical exertion of intercourse.
- Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) or other vascular anomalies: These could cause headaches and might be exacerbated or become apparent during physical activity like intercourse.
- Temporal arteritis: An inflammatory condition affecting the blood vessels, which could cause headaches and might be worsened by physical exertion.
Rare Diagnoses
- Chiari malformation: A structural defect in the cerebellum that can cause headaches, potentially worsened by increased intracranial pressure during intercourse.
- Pituitary apoplexy: A condition where the pituitary gland suddenly hemorrhages or becomes infarcted, potentially triggered by the physical strain of intercourse, leading to severe headache.
- Sexual headache due to other secondary causes: Such as sinusitis, otitis media, or other infections that could cause headache and might be exacerbated by sexual activity.