Will My Migraines Resolve Once I Reach Menopause?

Almost 40 million Americans suffer from migraines, a type of headache that can cause severe pain and a wealth of other symptoms, like nausea, light sensitivity, and vomiting. Data show that migraines happen about 3-4 times as often in women as in men, and symptoms tend to be worse for women, as well. 

While researchers aren’t sure why this happens, they suspect estrogen fluctuations may be the cause. And that begs the question: Will migraines resolve once a woman reaches menopause?

At Advanced Medical Care, our neurology team — Marina Neystat, MD, Maria Dolgovina, MD, and Ivan Mikolaenko, MD — helps patients relieve migraine symptoms and prevent flare-ups. In recognition of Migraine & Headache Awareness Month, we’re dedicating this post to a better understanding of migraines and how the hormonal changes in menopause may cause a change in your symptoms.

Estrogen and migraines

Women go through a range of hormonal fluctuations during their lives. Puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and perimenopause and menopause significantly affect hormone production — and that means they affect your health and wellness in other ways, too.

While many people think of estrogen solely in terms of its effects on sexual health and reproduction, the so-called female hormone also plays a role in circulation, one factor that can play a role in migraine frequency and intensity. 

Estrogen also affects neurotransmitters responsible for pain regulation and nerve excitability, effects that also may exacerbate migraines. Changes in neurotransmitter response may also make it harder to cope with migraine symptoms.

In fact, many women find that migraines occur right before their periods, a phenomenon referred to as menstrual migraines. In the years leading up to menopause — a time known as perimenopause — estrogen levels can fluctuate dramatically, often leading to worsening migraine symptoms.

Menopause and migraines

Menopause is defined as not having a period for 12 consecutive months, and it’s a time when the fluctuations in estrogen common during perimenopause start to level off. While that can mean fewer migraines for some women, that’s not always the case — and it depends in part on what causes your migraines in the first place.

Specifically, for women whose migraines are driven by hormones — for instance, those who suffered from menstrual migraines — the arrival of menopause may bring migraine relief, thanks to the permanently lower levels of estrogen.

On the other hand, women who have migraines for primarily nonhormonal reasons may not experience significant relief from their headaches once they reach menopause. At the same time, some age-related issues, such as poor sleep, can contribute to migraines, which means menopause may not provide the headache relief you were hoping for.

Bottom line: Individual treatment is the key

Many factors can contribute to migraines, and while menopause does bring migraine relief for some women, it’s not a guarantee. Understanding your personal triggers and knowing what treatment options are available is essential.

Our team is skilled in creating personalized, targeted therapies tailored to each patient’s needs and symptoms. That includes recommending medical treatment, like pain medications, Botox® injections, and nerve blocks, as well as lifestyle changes like sleep improvements and changes in diet and exercise.

To learn more about how our team can help you find a solution for your migraine symptoms at any stage of life, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Advanced Medical Care in Forest Hills, Queens, and Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, New York.