Causes of migraines in women

Women experience migraines more frequently than men, and to some degree, this is a result of changing estrogen levels. Menstrual migraines, for example, appear to be related to the drop in estrogen immediately before the start of the menstrual flow. Premenstrual migraines occur two to seven days prior to onset of menses, during or after the time when the female hormones estrogen and progesterone decrease to their lowest levels. Menstrual migraines are those that occur one day prior to or during menses. Some women may experience a migraine at the time of ovulation, also related to a drop in estrogen level.

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The effects of estrogen fluctuation on menstrual migraine are also suggested by the disappearance of migraine attacks during pregnancy and after menopause. In one study, 64 percent of women who described a menstrual link to their headaches noted that their headaches disappeared during pregnancy. However, it also is true that pregnancy or menopause in many women marks the start of their migraines. Some women have reported the initial onset of migraines during the first trimester of pregnancy, with disappearance of their headaches after the third month of pregnancy.

Birth control pills as well as hormone replacement therapy for menopause can change the frequency or severity of headaches. If you notice your headaches getting worse after starting one of these medications, it may be worthwhile to ask your physician for an agent that contains a lower dosage of estrogen or request a change from an interrupted dosing regimen to a continuous one.