Is There a Link Between Migraines and Hormones?
Find the truth about questions that pique your curiosity in our series, “The Short Answer.” Clinical psychologist Steven J. Krause, PhD, answers this one about migraine headaches.
Is There a Link Between Migraines and Hormones?
The Short Answer from a clinical psychologist
Q: Is there a link between migraines and hormones?
A: Migraines are more common for women around the time of menstruation, as the abrupt drop in estrogen that triggers menses also can trigger migraines.
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Migraines are generally worse between puberty and menopause, since these estrogen fluctuations generally do not occur in young girls and post-menopausal women.
There do not appear to be any hormonal triggers for migraines in men, although men’s migraines can be triggered by multiple other factors.
Menstrual migraines are treatable using the same techniques as other forms of migraine, including medications, stress management, relaxation training, biofeedback, and lifestyle management.
Even if the hormonal triggers do not change, other triggers can be addressed. If your headaches are strongly influenced by hormones, it is possible you will experience improvement or resolution of the headaches when reaching menopause.
— Steven J. Krause, PhD, Director of the Interdisciplinary Method for the Assessment & Treatment of Chronic Headache (IMATCH) program in Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Neurological Restoration
