OCtober 25, 2025
Hormonal migraine in women is a type of migraine linked to changes in the level of female sex hormones, above all oestrogen. This type of headache usually appears during menstruation, pregnancy or the menopause, because at those times the hormonal balance in the body shifts, and this change affects the blood vessels of the brain and the activity of the nerve cells.
The most common form is called menstrual migraine. Here the headache begins a few days before menstruation or in the first days of the period. When the oestrogen level falls sharply, the blood vessels widen and the pain mechanisms are activated.
The symptoms of hormonal migraine are the same as those of classical migraine: throbbing pain on one side of the head, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, sometimes vomiting and weakness. These attacks, however, often last longer and recur in step with the menstrual cycle.
During pregnancy the oestrogen level stays stable, so in some women migraine eases or stops altogether in this period. After childbirth, by contrast, the rapid fall in oestrogen can make the attacks return. During the menopause hormonal changes may affect the course of migraine in different ways: in some women it eases, in others it becomes even stronger.
Several approaches are used to manage hormonal migraine.
In mild cases, anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen can be taken one or two days before menstruation begins in order to prevent the pain.
If the attacks are severe and frequent, the doctor may prescribe contraceptives or oestrogen patches that keep hormone levels stable. These medications are not suitable for every woman, however, so they must be used only under a doctor's supervision.
For preventive treatment it is important to keep a regular sleep and eating routine, to reduce stress, to limit caffeine and sugar, to drink enough water and to stay physically active.
In short, hormonal migraine in women is a sensitive response of the brain to changes in the oestrogen level in the body. Maintaining hormonal balance and proper preventive treatment play the main role in managing this type of migraine.