CLEVELAND -- Most people have heard that old excuse – "Not tonight honey, I have a headache." NewsChannel5 anchor Lee Jordan has the cure for that problem.

There is new evidence that sex may actually help a headache.

The March issue of Health Magazine said a little hanky panky can actually ease migraine pain.

Dr. Vincent Martin, a headache specialist, said it's all about the seratonin.

He said seratonin nerves in the brain are less active during a migraine attack. Boost their activity and the pain improves.

That's just what sex is designed to do, Jordan reported.

Martin said to keep in mind it's not just the act of having sex, but the person needs to reach the climax.

"The orgasm itself releases seratonin and activates pathways that might get rid of a migraine attack. So you probably have to have the orgasm," Martin said.

Not everyone is turned on by the idea, though. Martin said that for some women sex actually causes headaches.

"There are also some women who have what we call coital headaches, which are headaches that actually arrive from sexual activity," he said.

Whether or not the headache excuse works, doctors and patients agree that in most cases, sex can't hurt.

Martin also said that studies show migraine patients actually have a bigger sex drive.