Vasculitis and sexual intercourse?

I'm a 42-year-old man diagnosed with Giant Cell Arteritis, which is affecting my temporal arteries, my right eye and the brain. As if things weren't challenging enough between my young age and the rarity of a vasculitis, my girlfriend is afraid of having sexual intercourse with me out of fear that I could burst a blood vessel in the brain. I researched this on the internet and can find no information one way or another, but I don't believe that there are any risks to me having sex with vasculitis. My biopsy on the right side of my head has nearly completely healed and my question is this: Is my girlfriend's concern warranted or not. I would like serious anwers to this question only. Thanks.

From my point of view, I don't see any dangers in you having sex. As you said, your disease seems to be in remission for the moment. The common complications known for GCA are aortic aneurysms, stroke, or chest pain. I'm assuming the doctors did an ultrasound of your heart to exclude aneurysms or inflammation of the coronary arteries (if you don't have any symptoms that suggest involvement of coronary arteries, it's safe to say that you won't be having an aneurysm or chest pain).
Now, about popping a vein in your head: it is indeed true that your blood vessels are weakened by the inflammation, but the way you described your case, it sounds as if you are currently in remission. There is always the possibility of a vessel burst, but since you are still young and your arteries fairly healthy (I'm assuming), the chances of that happening to you aren't that great. In my opinion (med student a few weeks short of graduation), I don't think there's any danger in having sex, unless it's strenuous and exhausting. Just make sure you don't overdo it.

If you want to be extra-sure, call your doctor.

when you have an orgasm your blood pressure and pulse will rise. Similar to when you are angry/hurt/in pain.
If your temporal arteries have to take on more blood at a faster rate then I guess they could burst.
But really if you've been angry since this diagnosis then the chances of an orgasm causing a burst is slim.
I think you would be best to ask your GP.
Or call a medical hotline, in Western Australia with have a healthcare hotline that you ring if you are not sure how to treat something or if you think you should come into the emergency department but aren't sure.
I'm sure they could give you some info.
But I would say that if your girlfriend is really concerned but you really want to do it. Be prepared. have a phone near by, make sure she can do CPR or something like that and if everything goes wrong then I think the same thing could have happened if you kept fighting about having sex because your body does the same thing (increased BP and heart rate)
Also if it was really an issue when you were diagnosed the doctor would have said avoid intercourse, avoid anger avoid pain etc etc etc
I'd go for it, just be prepared if she's really worried.