Survey study, 2000
How do female hormones affect migraines and headaches?
Estrogen withdrawal appears to trigger menstrually-related migraines rather than sustained high or low hormone levels. Migraines are much more common in adult women than in men.
What they did
This review examined how female hormones affect migraines and other headaches, and how hormonal changes during menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, and birth control pill use relate to migraine patterns.
What they found
Estrogen withdrawal appears to be the main trigger for menstrually-related migraines, not sustained high or low levels. In childhood, migraines occur in 4 out of every 100 boys and girls at equal rates. In adults, migraines occur in 18 out of every 100 women and 6 out of every 100 men. Migraines develop most frequently during adolescence.
What it means for you
For women whose migraines link to their cycle, the key factor appears to be the drop in estrogen around menstruation rather than the hormone level itself. This suggests treatment might include timing medication around menstruation or adjusting hormone levels. This is a review of existing research rather than a new study, so it explains current understanding but does not test a specific treatment.
18 per 100
adult women with migraines
6 per 100
adult men with migraines
4 per 100
children with migraines
About the study
- Original title
- Sex hormones and headache
- Authors
- Silberstein SD
- Journal
- Revue neurologique
- Year
- 2000
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 100
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/9780203488003-16
Topics
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