Women and migraine

Migraine is more common in adult women. Both sexes may develop migraine in infancy, but most often the disorder begins between the ages of 5 and 35.

There is an unclear relationship between female hormones and migraine. Women may have "menstrual migraine"--headaches around the time of their menstrual period--which may disappear during pregnancy. . Menstrual migraines can be more debilitating, difficult to treat, and last longer than other migraines. Other women develop migraine for the first time when they are pregnant Migraine may also worsen in early pregnancy; however, in later pregnancy it often improves. Some women are first affected after menopause, although migraine typically declines in frequency as they age.

The effect of oral contraceptives on headaches is perplexing. Scientists report that some women with migraine who take birth control pills experience more frequent and severe attacks. Women who do not suffer from headaches may develop migraines as a side effect when they use oral contraceptives. However, a small percentage of women have fewer and less severe migraine headaches when they take birth control pills. Investigators around the world are studying hormonal changes in women with migraine in the hope of identifying the specific ways these naturally occurring chemicals cause headaches.