Migraines and Sexual Desire

Angel · **Migraines and Sexual Desire -** 13-06-2006, 07:29 PM

Instead of a headache making you say "no" to sex, it may make you want it more.

A new study from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C., reveals migraine sufferers have higher levels of sexual desire than people with other types of headaches. Researchers say the brain chemical serotonin may be linked to both sexual desire and migraines.

"The results support the idea that migraine, as a syndrome, is associated with other common phenomena," reports Timothy Houle, Ph.D., lead author and assistant professor of anesthesiology at Wake Forest. "Understanding this link will help us to better understand the nature of migraine and perhaps lead to improved treatment."

Sixty-eight patients who reported having at least 10 headaches a year took part in the study. They were diagnosed with either tension or migraine headaches. The average age of participants was 24.

Results show migraine sufferers' sexual desire levels were 20-percent higher than patients with tension headaches. And women with migraines had sexual desire levels similar to men with tension headaches. Overall men reported 24-percent higher levels of sexual desire than women.

High levels of serotonin are linked with low sexual desire. Researchers conclude since migraine sufferers have low levels of serotonin, it may explain why they have higher levels of sex drive.

unseennude · **Migraines, associated with dyspepsia as well: -** 13-06-2006, 11:45 PM

Unexplained upper abdominal symptoms are more common in patients with migraine headaches than in healthy controls, according to a report in the May issue of Cephalalgia.However, "Other studies have to confirm this link and to provide more information about the potential biological link", the researchers said.

Among migraine patients, the researchers note, there was no association between the dose of analgesic and the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms.

"The association between migraine and dyspepsia is largely unknown and there is an ongoing debate about the underlying pathophysiology," the investigators explain. "Several similarities in the pathophysiology of both migraine and idiopathic dyspepsia may indicate a common underlying cause."

A plan implementing a tool to evaluate the association between migraine and dyspepsia is made in large US-based cohort studies.

Results are yet to be found.

source:Cephalalgia 2006;26:506-510.