Some troubles triggered by sex

9 Sicknesses Triggered by Sex
By Madeline Vann, MPH | Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III MD, MPH
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Not in the mood tonight? You probably have a number of clever cop-outs up your sleeve — your “head is killing you,” you’ve been feeling a bit blue, or you’d just hate to spread your sore throat and sniffles to your hubby.

But can you imagine having to turn down your partner’s advances because having sex with him would actually make you sick — it would trigger a piercing headache, flu-like symptoms, or even amnesia? From post-coital depression to post-orgasmic illness syndrome, here’s a look at some common (and oftentimes strange!) sexual sicknesses.


Can Mind-Blowing Sex Actually Blow Your Mind?

Have you ever had sex that's so toe-curlingly fabulous, you can't think straight? For one woman in Washington, DC, a romp in the hay with her husband zapped her memory ... literally.

Her memories began to disappear about an hour after intercourse, and doctors diagnosed her with transient global amnesia — a sudden, temporary episode of memory loss that affects only three to five people out of 100,000 each year.

The incident was reported in the September 2011 issue of The Journal of Emergency Medicine, and doctors are still a little stumped. That's because MRI scans show that transient global amnesia isn't caused by damage to the brain — in fact, researchers aren't exactly sure what causes it. However, a recent study in the journal Stroke points to insufficiency of the valves in the jugular vein, which allows deoxygenated blood to flow into the brain, according to an MSNBC article.

Sex isn't the only trigger — transient global amnesia may be caused by strenuous physical activity, emotional distress, even taking a sudden dip into hot or cold water. Fortunately, people who experience this curious condition usually get their memory back, and it's unlikely to happen again.


When Sex Is a Headache

It may be your go-to excuse when you want to avoid a romp in the hay (“not tonight, dear — I’ve got a headache”) — but for some people, sex actually triggers head pain. According to the National Headache Foundation (NHF), 20 percent of women and 5 percent of guys experience “exertional headaches” (a type of headache caused by increased blood pressure in the brain that usually occurs during exercise) or “pre-orgasmic headaches” during sex.

What does a sex headache feel like? It usually starts as a dull pain in the head that can intensify as you build up to a climax, and it can last a few minutes up to half an hour. If you’re cursed with sex headaches, you may be able to beat them by popping a painkiller 30 minutes before you get intimate.


Got the Post-Sex Blues?

Feeling glum about a not-so-great sexual encounter is one thing — but according to a study published in the International Journal of Sexual Health, one-third of women say they feel depressed even after a perfectly pleasing lovemaking session. Researchers call it post-coital dysphoria, and it affects about 10 percent of women regularly.

Post-sex depression is marked by feelings of sadness, anxiety, regret, and irritability. Researchers aren’t exactly sure what causes it, but it could be caused by a hormonal shift after reaching orgasm. If you’re regularly sad in the sack, you might want to explore the reasons for your feelings with a therapist, says obstetrician/gynecologist Paula Bednarek, MD, MPH, director of the Ryan Family Planning Clinic in the Center for Women's Health at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. It could also be related to feeling unequal in your partnership or other relationship issues.