[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/11\/living-with-hormonal-headaches\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/11\/living-with-hormonal-headaches\/","headline":"Living With Hormonal Headaches: What You Need to Know","name":"Living With Hormonal Headaches: What You Need to Know","description":"<p>Many women get migraines right before or during their menstrual period. Here\u2019s what you need to know to alleviate the discomfort of hormonal headaches.<\/p>","datePublished":"2025-11-12","dateModified":"2025-12-02","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/women-regions","name":"UPMC Magee-Womens","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/women-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-magee-womens-hospital\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-1879267438-e1762957971959.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-1879267438-e1762957971959.jpg","height":866,"width":2000},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/11\/living-with-hormonal-headaches\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Women's Health"],"wordCount":1200,"articleBody":"If you suffer from migraines, you may notice they often occur around your period. You\u2019re not alone: As many as two-thirds of the women who get migraines experience menstrual cycle headaches.Wondering what triggers hormonal headaches and how to avoid them? Read on to find hormonal headache relief and learn how to prevent hormonal headaches before your period.What Are Period-Related Migraines?Period-related migraines are headaches that happen right before or during your menstrual cycle. They can feel debilitating, both physically and emotionally.Migraines are more common in women than in men due to the relationship between migraine and hormone fluctuations in different phases of a woman\u2019s lifetime.Every month, right before your period, the levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone drop. This change in hormone levels can trigger a migraine. Doctors sometimes call them estrogen withdrawal migraines. Fluctuating hormones during pregnancy and perimenopause can also lead to migraines.Hormonal migraines become less frequent when you reach menopause and your hormones stabilize.What Are the Symptoms of a Hormonal Headache?A hormonal headache is a type of migraine. Migraines are different from the more common tension headache (also called a stress headache).The pain of a migraine is more severe than a regular headache. It tends to feel like a throbbing or pulsing pain on one side of the head.A migraine may also cause:An \u201caura\u201d when the migraine begins. An aura may look like flashing lights, sparkles, or zigzag lines across your field of vision.Dizziness.Fatigue.Loss of appetite.Nausea.Sensitivity to bright lights and loud noises.Vomiting.Common Questions About Hormonal HeadachesWhat\u2019s the difference between hormonal headaches and regular migraines?Hormone-related headaches may feel more severe and last longer than migraines at other times. Otherwise, the symptoms are the same.Is it important to know how to track hormonal migraine patterns?It\u2019s helpful to keep a \u201cheadache diary\u201d where you write down the days when you have migraines. You can note the severity of symptoms and how long they last. Sharing this information with your doctor can help you develop a treatment plan.You may notice a regular pattern to your migraines. In addition to your menstrual cycle, triggers might include certain foods, stress, lack of sleep, or alcohol and caffeine. Knowing your triggers can help you take measures to stave off or lessen the discomfort of menstrual migraines.Can birth control help with menstrual migraines?Possibly. There\u2019s a connection between birth control and menstrual migraines. Some birth control pills can reduce the severity of migraines by stabilizing your hormones.Is there a connection between perimenopause and migraines?Yes. Hormonal migraine triggers include more than your menstrual cycle. More women experience migraines during perimenopause (the years leading up to menopause) due to shifting hormones.Some women experience migraines for the first time during pregnancy. Again, changing hormone levels are to blame.Menstrual Migraine Treatment OptionsYou can ask your primary care provider (PCP) for advice on how to manage migraines during perimenopause or any other time.\u00a0They may refer you to a headache specialist.You may find you can\u2019t prevent every headache. But a combination of medications and lifestyle changes can help reduce the severity and frequency of hormonal migraines.The best medications for menstrual migraines include:Birth control pills \u2014 Hormonal birth control can keep estrogen levels stable in the days leading up to your period and beyond.CGRP inhibitors \u2014 These medications specifically target migraine pathways by blocking the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). This protein contributes to migraine pain. CGRP inhibitors come in pill and injection form.Hormone therapy \u2014 Formerly called hormone replacement therapy or HRT, these estrogen supplements can help prevent the drop in hormone levels that triggers migraines. They come in patch, pill, and vaginal gel form.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) \u2014\u00a0These over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as Advil and Motrin, can help ease headache pain.Triptans \u2014 These drugs are common treatments for migraines. They come in tablet, injection, and nasal spray forms.How to Treat Hormonal Headaches NaturallyFor many women, simple lifestyle changes can help ease the discomfort of hormonal headaches. These habits are good for managing migraines in general. You can:Avoid known triggers \u2014 If habits like eating cheese or drinking alcohol trigger your migraines, stay away from them. It\u2019s especially important to do so on the days before and during your period.Drink enough water \u2014\u00a0Your body needs adequate hydration to work properly.Ice \u2014 Applying cold compresses to your head can ease the pain of a migraine.Improve your quality of sleep \u2014\u00a0Irregular sleep or sleep deprivation can trigger migraine. Develop a healthy sleep schedule of going to bed at the same time every night.Manage stress \u2014 Relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, and gentle stretching can help keep stress levels low. A regular exercise routine (walking, jogging, swimming) is often a great stress reliever.Take supplements \u2014 Talk to your doctor about whether vitamin B2, vitamin D, or magnesium supplements may help ease your period headache symptoms.Track your cycle \u2014\u00a0Knowing when a migraine is likely to happen can help you prepare.Try complementary therapies \u2014 Some people find relief from migraines through acupuncture or massage therapy. Talk to your doctor about these methods.You may not prevent every menstrual headache. But maintaining healthy habits can lessen your chances of having a bad migraine.When to See a Doctor for Menstrual MigrainesIf you get migraines frequently with your period, you should see your PCP or, if they advise it, a headache specialist. Other reasons to call your doctor include:Your headache pattern changes.Your headaches are interfering with work, school, or daily life.You\u2019re getting more headaches than before, or they\u2019re more severe.You\u2019re having new or more severe side effects.You should call 911 or head to the nearest emergency department if you have any of the following symptoms:A bad headache that comes on suddenly.You experience numbness or a tingling sensation with the headache.You feel like you\u2019re having \u201cthe worst headache of my life.\u201dYou have a seizure.You have difficulty speaking or blurred vision.You have trouble balancing or feel confused.You\u2019re pregnant and have a bad headache, which is a possible sign of preeclampsia.Other concerning symptoms include swelling of the face or hands, changes in eyesight, and sudden weight gain.SourcesNational Migraine Centre. Menstrual migraine. Accessed October 2025. https:\/\/www.nationalmigrainecentre.org.uk\/understanding-migraine\/factsheets-and-resources\/menstrual-migraine\/. NationalMigraineCentre.org.ukAssociation of Migraine Disorders. Clinical Recommendations for Managing Menstrual Migraine. Accessed October 2025. https:\/\/www.migrainedisorders.org\/clinical-recommendations-for-managing-menstrual-migraine. MigraineDisorders.orgNational Headache Foundation. Menstrual Migraine. Accessed October 2025. https:\/\/headaches.org\/menstrual-migraine. Headaches.orgStatPearls. Menstrual-Related Headache. Accessed October 2025. https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK557451\/. NIH.govMigraine Trust. Menstrual migraine. Accessed October 2025. https:\/\/migrainetrust.org\/understand-migraine\/types-of-migraine\/menstrual-migraine\/#content. MigraineTrust.orgSociety for Women\u2019s Health Research. Menopause, Perimenopause, and Migraine. Accessed October 2025. https:\/\/swhr.org\/menopause-perimenopause-and-migraine\/. SWHR.orgAmerican College of Obstetricians &amp; Gynecologists. Headaches and Pregnancy. Accessed October 2025. https:\/\/www.acog.org\/womens-health\/faqs\/headaches-and-pregnancy. ACOG.orgNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Headaches and Complementary Health Approaches: What the Science Says. Accessed October 2025. https:\/\/www.nccih.nih.gov\/health\/providers\/digest\/headaches-and-complementary-health-approaches-science. NIH.gov"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2025","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"11","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/\/11\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Living With Hormonal Headaches: What You Need to Know","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/11\/living-with-hormonal-headaches\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]