Though we may not have heard it personally, most are aware of the old excuse "Not tonight honey, I have a headache." What is sometimes laughingly referred to as the best excuse to get of intimacy with your partner may not be true. In fact the opposite may be true. A new study published in the June issue of Headache has found a link between migraine headaches and high sex drive.
The study was developed out of an interest in serotonin and its role in migraine headaches. The lead researcher, Dr. Houle, wondered if low serotonin may cause higher sex drive. This idea came from the evidence that selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which increase serotonin in the brain, often cause low libido. He also states that low serotonin has an integral role in the development of migraine headaches.
So to test the theory that migraine headaches and libido are linked via serotonin he enrolled 59 adults who suffer from headaches. 23 had migraine and 36 had tension type headaches. He then had them rate their sexual desire and sex drive.
The results showed that men had a 25% higher sex drive than women in general. It also showed that individuals who suffer migraines have a 20% higher sex drive than those who suffer from tension headaches.
So even though serotonin levels were not measured, Houle and his collegues are intrigued by the relationship between high sex drive and migraine headaches. He also points out that some individuals will find relief from migraine headaches by engaging in sexual activities.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on June 23, 2006 02:01 PM
