Thunderclap headache with orgasm: a case of basilar artery dissection associated with sexual intercourse.
Citation: Journal of Emergency Medicine. 43(1):e43-7, 2012 Jul.PMID: 19818575Institution: MedStar Washington Hospital CenterDepartment: Emergency MedicineForm of publication: Journal ArticleMedline article type(s): Case Reports | Journal ArticleSubject headings: *Basilar Artery/pa [Pathology] | *Orgasm | *Vascular Headaches/et [Etiology] | Adult | Humans | Magnetic Resonance Angiography | Recurrence | Vascular Headaches/di [Diagnosis] | Vascular Headaches/dt [Drug Therapy]Local holdings: Available online from MWHC library: 1995 - present, Available in print through MWHC library:1999-2007ISSN:- 0736-4679
Item type | Current library | Collection | Call number | Status | Date due | Barcode |
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Journal Article | MedStar Authors Catalog | Article | Available | 19818575 |
Available online from MWHC library: 1995 - present, Available in print through MWHC library:1999-2007
BACKGROUND: Headaches associated with sexual intercourse (coital cephalgia) have many different causes and are often divided in the literature into pre-orgasmic and orgasmic headaches.
CONCLUSIONS: The cause of headaches related to sexual activity range from the benign to the life-threatening. Due to the dynamics of cerebral blood flow during sexual intercourse, basilar artery dissections and aneurysms should be considered in patients with sudden-onset headaches during orgasm. Appropriate brain imaging and, possibly, lumbar puncture may assist in identifying potentially life-threatening causes of coital headaches. Copyright 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
OBJECTIVE: To present a case of orgasmic headache caused by a basilar artery dissection and to present a literature-based guide to the diagnosis and management of patients presenting with headaches related to sexual activity. Case Report: We report the case of a 34-year-old man without significant past medical history who presented to the Emergency Department with two episodes of orgasmic headache caused by basilar artery dissection.
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