Migraines in Women: Are You at Higher Risk?

Migraines in women are more common than you might think. While 15% of the population experiences migraines, three in four migraine sufferers are women, according to the Office on Women’s Health.

Migraine headaches are caused by electrical activity in the brain responsible for pain and light sensitivity. This pain makes it difficult for many people to function in their everyday lives. Recently, researchers have been trying to understand why migraines have become such a serious women’s health issue and why they tend to worsen with age.

Migraines in Women May Be Hormone-Related

Female migraine sufferers report longer-lasting, more frequent headaches. This may be due to female sex hormones that increase after puberty. Estrogen levels and progesterone may be a primary cause of migraines.

Hormonal levels change throughout a woman’s life. Many women report significant migraine relief during pregnancy and menopause. Experts don’t fully understand the connection between hormones and migraines in women. However, ongoing research has been beneficial for identifying effective treatment of migraines.

The Age and Migraine Connection

The age group suffering from migraines most are women of child-bearing age or those between the ages of 30 and 40.

A woman’s menstrual cycle is often closely tied to the frequency and severity of her migraine symptoms. More than half of women who experience migraines report menstrual-related increases in migraine symptoms. After puberty, women and girls begin to report more frequent migraine headaches than men.

The risk of developing migraine headaches decreases after the age of 40. For some patients, migraine symptoms including light and noise sensitivity also decrease with age.

Preventing Migraines in Women

While hormones and genetics increase a woman’s risk for developing migraines, many women have unique lifestyle stressors that often make migraine symptoms worse. “Knowing your migraine triggers is powerful,” says Dr. Bobbi Lakin, MD, a Family Medicine doctor at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. “We can’t change some things like the weather or our baseline hormones, but we can figure out how to sleep better, increase our coping strategies and decrease intake of trigger foods or drink.”

Some migraine triggers include:

• Alcohol.
• Anxiety and stress.
• Bright lights.
• Caffeine.
• Changes in the weather.
• History of childhood abuse.
• Loud noises.
• Processed foods, particularly those that are high in sodium or contain nitrates.
• Strong odors.
• Sugar substitutes such as aspartame.

It’s common to have more than one migraine trigger. Keeping track of headaches can help identify which triggers are most likely to cause a migraine. Taking notes about these details may help identify triggers:

• Food and drink consumption 24 hours prior to the migraine.
• Location and activity before the migraine started.
• Menstrual cycle or menopausal symptoms.
• What time the migraine began.

Talk to a Professional

“If you’ve had a migraine, you know they can be disabling and dramatically affect your daily functioning,” says Dr. Lakin. “Don’t just keep dealing. Let us at St. Elizabeth Primary Care help you get started on the path to more migraine-free days.”

To schedule an appointment with a Primary Care provider at St. Elizabeth use our Find a Doctor tool.