diff --git a/context.go b/context.go
index c921d6be7..769f88a01 100644
--- a/context.go
+++ b/context.go
@@ -11,8 +11,6 @@
 // See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 // limitations under the License.
 
-// +build go1.7
-
 // A Go client for the NATS messaging system (https://nats.io).
 package nats
 
@@ -21,9 +19,33 @@ import (
 	"reflect"
 )
 
+// RequestMsgWithContext takes a context, a subject and payload
+// in bytes and request expecting a single response.
+func (nc *Conn) RequestMsgWithContext(ctx context.Context, msg *Msg) (*Msg, error) {
+	var hdr []byte
+	var err error
+
+	if len(msg.Header) > 0 {
+		if !nc.info.Headers {
+			return nil, ErrHeadersNotSupported
+		}
+
+		hdr, err = msg.headerBytes()
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nc.requestWithContext(ctx, msg.Subject, hdr, msg.Data)
+}
+
 // RequestWithContext takes a context, a subject and payload
 // in bytes and request expecting a single response.
 func (nc *Conn) RequestWithContext(ctx context.Context, subj string, data []byte) (*Msg, error) {
+	return nc.requestWithContext(ctx, subj, nil, data)
+}
+
+func (nc *Conn) requestWithContext(ctx context.Context, subj string, hdr, data []byte) (*Msg, error) {
 	if ctx == nil {
 		return nil, ErrInvalidContext
 	}
@@ -40,10 +62,10 @@ func (nc *Conn) RequestWithContext(ctx context.Context, subj string, data []byte
 	// If user wants the old style.
 	if nc.Opts.UseOldRequestStyle {
 		nc.mu.Unlock()
-		return nc.oldRequestWithContext(ctx, subj, data)
+		return nc.oldRequestWithContext(ctx, subj, hdr, data)
 	}
 
-	mch, token, err := nc.createNewRequestAndSend(subj, data)
+	mch, token, err := nc.createNewRequestAndSend(subj, hdr, data)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -67,7 +89,7 @@ func (nc *Conn) RequestWithContext(ctx context.Context, subj string, data []byte
 }
 
 // oldRequestWithContext utilizes inbox and subscription per request.
-func (nc *Conn) oldRequestWithContext(ctx context.Context, subj string, data []byte) (*Msg, error) {
+func (nc *Conn) oldRequestWithContext(ctx context.Context, subj string, hdr, data []byte) (*Msg, error) {
 	inbox := NewInbox()
 	ch := make(chan *Msg, RequestChanLen)
 
@@ -78,7 +100,7 @@ func (nc *Conn) oldRequestWithContext(ctx context.Context, subj string, data []b
 	s.AutoUnsubscribe(1)
 	defer s.Unsubscribe()
 
-	err = nc.PublishRequest(subj, inbox, data)
+	err = nc.publish(subj, inbox, hdr, data)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/nats.go b/nats.go
index d3fa2b991..4184ada94 100644
--- a/nats.go
+++ b/nats.go
@@ -510,6 +510,31 @@ type Msg struct {
 	barrier *barrierInfo
 }
 
+func (m *Msg) headerBytes() ([]byte, error) {
+	var hdr []byte
+	if len(m.Header) == 0 {
+		return hdr, nil
+	}
+
+	var b bytes.Buffer
+	_, err := b.WriteString(hdrLine)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, ErrBadHeaderMsg
+	}
+
+	err = m.Header.Write(&b)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, ErrBadHeaderMsg
+	}
+
+	_, err = b.WriteString(crlf)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, ErrBadHeaderMsg
+	}
+
+	return b.Bytes(), nil
+}
+
 type barrierInfo struct {
 	refs int64
 	f    func()
@@ -2687,18 +2712,21 @@ func (nc *Conn) PublishMsg(m *Msg) error {
 	if m == nil {
 		return ErrInvalidMsg
 	}
+
 	var hdr []byte
+	var err error
+
 	if len(m.Header) > 0 {
 		if !nc.info.Headers {
 			return ErrHeadersNotSupported
 		}
-		// FIXME(dlc) - Optimize
-		var b bytes.Buffer
-		b.WriteString(hdrLine)
-		m.Header.Write(&b)
-		b.WriteString(crlf)
-		hdr = b.Bytes()
+
+		hdr, err = m.headerBytes()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
+
 	return nc.publish(m.Subject, m.Reply, hdr, m.Data)
 }
 
@@ -2874,7 +2902,7 @@ func (nc *Conn) respHandler(m *Msg) {
 }
 
 // Helper to setup and send new request style requests. Return the chan to receive the response.
-func (nc *Conn) createNewRequestAndSend(subj string, data []byte) (chan *Msg, string, error) {
+func (nc *Conn) createNewRequestAndSend(subj string, hdr, data []byte) (chan *Msg, string, error) {
 	// Do setup for the new style if needed.
 	if nc.respMap == nil {
 		nc.initNewResp()
@@ -2898,28 +2926,55 @@ func (nc *Conn) createNewRequestAndSend(subj string, data []byte) (chan *Msg, st
 	}
 	nc.mu.Unlock()
 
-	if err := nc.PublishRequest(subj, respInbox, data); err != nil {
+	if err := nc.publish(subj, respInbox, hdr, data); err != nil {
 		return nil, token, err
 	}
 
 	return mch, token, nil
 }
 
+// RequestMsg will send a request payload including optional headers and deliver
+// the response message, or an error, including a timeout if no message was received properly.
+func (nc *Conn) RequestMsg(msg *Msg, timeout time.Duration) (*Msg, error) {
+	var hdr []byte
+	var err error
+
+	if len(msg.Header) > 0 {
+		if !nc.info.Headers {
+			return nil, ErrHeadersNotSupported
+		}
+
+		hdr, err = msg.headerBytes()
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nc.request(msg.Subject, hdr, msg.Data, timeout)
+}
+
 // Request will send a request payload and deliver the response message,
 // or an error, including a timeout if no message was received properly.
 func (nc *Conn) Request(subj string, data []byte, timeout time.Duration) (*Msg, error) {
+	return nc.request(subj, nil, data, timeout)
+}
+
+func (nc *Conn) request(subj string, hdr, data []byte, timeout time.Duration) (*Msg, error) {
 	if nc == nil {
 		return nil, ErrInvalidConnection
 	}
 
 	nc.mu.Lock()
-	// If user wants the old style.
 	if nc.Opts.UseOldRequestStyle {
 		nc.mu.Unlock()
-		return nc.oldRequest(subj, data, timeout)
+		return nc.oldRequest(subj, hdr, data, timeout)
 	}
 
-	mch, token, err := nc.createNewRequestAndSend(subj, data)
+	return nc.newRequest(subj, hdr, data, timeout)
+}
+
+func (nc *Conn) newRequest(subj string, hdr, data []byte, timeout time.Duration) (*Msg, error) {
+	mch, token, err := nc.createNewRequestAndSend(subj, hdr, data)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -2948,7 +3003,7 @@ func (nc *Conn) Request(subj string, data []byte, timeout time.Duration) (*Msg,
 // oldRequest will create an Inbox and perform a Request() call
 // with the Inbox reply and return the first reply received.
 // This is optimized for the case of multiple responses.
-func (nc *Conn) oldRequest(subj string, data []byte, timeout time.Duration) (*Msg, error) {
+func (nc *Conn) oldRequest(subj string, hdr, data []byte, timeout time.Duration) (*Msg, error) {
 	inbox := NewInbox()
 	ch := make(chan *Msg, RequestChanLen)
 
@@ -2959,10 +3014,11 @@ func (nc *Conn) oldRequest(subj string, data []byte, timeout time.Duration) (*Ms
 	s.AutoUnsubscribe(1)
 	defer s.Unsubscribe()
 
-	err = nc.PublishRequest(subj, inbox, data)
+	err = nc.publish(subj, inbox, hdr, data)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+
 	return s.NextMsg(timeout)
 }
 
@@ -3653,6 +3709,21 @@ func (m *Msg) Respond(data []byte) error {
 	return nc.Publish(m.Reply, data)
 }
 
+// RespondMsg allows a convenient way to respond to requests in service based subscriptions that might include headers
+func (m *Msg) RespondMsg(msg *Msg) error {
+	if m == nil || m.Sub == nil {
+		return ErrMsgNotBound
+	}
+	if m.Reply == "" {
+		return ErrMsgNoReply
+	}
+	m.Sub.mu.Lock()
+	nc := m.Sub.conn
+	m.Sub.mu.Unlock()
+	// No need to check the connection here since the call to publish will do all the checking.
+	return nc.PublishMsg(msg)
+}
+
 // FIXME: This is a hack
 // removeFlushEntry is needed when we need to discard queued up responses
 // for our pings as part of a flush call. This happens when we have a flush
diff --git a/test/context_test.go b/test/context_test.go
index 6ef03a4f6..fdba58c69 100644
--- a/test/context_test.go
+++ b/test/context_test.go
@@ -49,6 +49,16 @@ func testContextRequestWithTimeout(t *testing.T, nc *nats.Conn) {
 	nc.Subscribe("fast", func(m *nats.Msg) {
 		nc.Publish(m.Reply, []byte("OK"))
 	})
+	nc.Subscribe("hdrs", func(m *nats.Msg) {
+		if m.Header.Get("Hdr-Test") != "1" {
+			m.Respond([]byte("-ERR"))
+		}
+
+		r := nats.NewMsg(m.Reply)
+		r.Header = m.Header
+		r.Data = []byte("+OK")
+		m.RespondMsg(r)
+	})
 
 	ctx, cancelCB := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 100*time.Millisecond)
 	defer cancelCB() // should always be called, not discarded, to prevent context leak
@@ -90,6 +100,20 @@ func testContextRequestWithTimeout(t *testing.T, nc *nats.Conn) {
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("Expected request with context to fail")
 	}
+
+	// now test headers make it all the way back
+	msg := nats.NewMsg("hdrs")
+	msg.Header.Add("Hdr-Test", "1")
+	resp, err = nc.RequestMsgWithContext(context.Background(), msg)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Expected request to be published: %v", err)
+	}
+	if string(resp.Data) != "+OK" {
+		t.Fatalf("Headers were not published to the requestor")
+	}
+	if resp.Header.Get("Hdr-Test") != "1" {
+		t.Fatalf("Did not receive header in response")
+	}
 }
 
 func TestContextRequestWithTimeout(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/test/headers_test.go b/test/headers_test.go
index 2135883c9..105d75a5e 100644
--- a/test/headers_test.go
+++ b/test/headers_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	natsserver "github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2/test"
+
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go"
 )
 
@@ -57,6 +58,46 @@ func TestBasicHeaders(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestRequestMsg(t *testing.T) {
+	s := RunServerOnPort(-1)
+	defer s.Shutdown()
+
+	nc, err := nats.Connect(s.ClientURL())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Error connecting to server: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer nc.Close()
+
+	subject := "headers.test"
+	sub, err := nc.Subscribe(subject, func(m *nats.Msg) {
+		if m.Header.Get("Hdr-Test") != "1" {
+			m.Respond([]byte("-ERR"))
+		}
+
+		r := nats.NewMsg(m.Reply)
+		r.Header = m.Header
+		r.Data = []byte("+OK")
+		m.RespondMsg(r)
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("subscribe failed: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer sub.Unsubscribe()
+
+	msg := nats.NewMsg(subject)
+	msg.Header.Add("Hdr-Test", "1")
+	resp, err := nc.RequestMsg(msg, time.Second)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Expected request to be published: %v", err)
+	}
+	if string(resp.Data) != "+OK" {
+		t.Fatalf("Headers were not published to the requestor")
+	}
+	if resp.Header.Get("Hdr-Test") != "1" {
+		t.Fatalf("Did not receive header in response")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestNoHeaderSupport(t *testing.T) {
 	opts := natsserver.DefaultTestOptions
 	opts.Port = -1
@@ -77,4 +118,8 @@ func TestNoHeaderSupport(t *testing.T) {
 	if err := nc.PublishMsg(m); err != nats.ErrHeadersNotSupported {
 		t.Fatalf("Expected an error, got %v", err)
 	}
+
+	if _, err := nc.RequestMsg(m, time.Second); err != nats.ErrHeadersNotSupported {
+		t.Fatalf("Expected an error, got %v", err)
+	}
 }