---
title: What causes estrogen-withdrawal migraine and can estrogen supplements prevent it?
description: Migraine happens when estrogen levels drop after being high for several days. Estrogen supplements taken before the period did not prevent menstrual migraines
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/estrogen-withdrawal-migraine-i-duration-of-exposure-required-and-attempted-1975/
---

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- What causes estrogen-withdrawal migraine and can estrogen supplements prevent it?

Study, 1975

# What causes estrogen-withdrawal migraine and can estrogen supplements prevent it?

Migraine happens when estrogen levels drop after being high for several days. Estrogen supplements taken before the period did not prevent menstrual migraines.

 Early or limited evidence

6 women: 4 given long-acting estradiol and 2 given short-acting estradiol

## What they did

Researchers gave 4 women a long-acting form of estradiol and 2 women a short-acting form. They also tested whether giving estrogen supplements during the premenstrual phase could prevent migraine in 4 women.

## What they found

Several days of high estrogen levels were needed to trigger migraine when estrogen was withdrawn. Estrogen supplements during the premenstrual phase did not meaningfully increase estradiol levels in the blood and did not prevent menstrual migraine.

## What it means for you

The way estrogen changes rather than the absolute level may trigger migraine in some women. Estrogen supplements taken before the period do not seem to prevent menstrual migraine, probably because they do not raise blood estrogen levels enough. This was a very small study.

4

women with long-acting estradiol

2

women with short-acting estradiol

## About the study

Original title Estrogen-withdrawal migraine. I. Duration of exposure required and attempted prophylaxis by premenstrual estrogen administration Authors Somerville BW Journal Neurology Year 1975 Study design Study What was tested Long-acting or short-acting estradiol; estrogen supplements before the period Read the paper [doi.org/10.1212/wnl.25.3.239](https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.25.3.239)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Migraine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-migraine/)

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