Headaches
Of the 12 percent Americans experiencing migraines, most are women who report their condition occurring during their menstrual cycle. This means that hormone-induced migraines in women occur right before or during their period. In these cases, the drop in estrogen during a woman’s period is directly associated with the development of headaches.
Pre-menstrual migraines or hormone headache happens when estrogen and progesterone are at their lowest levels. Other symptoms accompanying a headache before or during menstruation include sensitivity to light, nausea, and dizziness. Migraines occur less often during pregnancy. However, there are also cases wherein expecting mothers report migraine attacks during the first and third trimesters. Again, these hormone-triggered migraines are caused by fluctuations in estrogen levels.
There are various effective treatments to alleviate migraine due to low estrogen levels. Doctors usually prescribe taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs). The most common NSAIDs prescribed are Advil, Motrin, and Naprosyn. Ideally, taking NSAIDs should commence two to three days before a menstrual period starts and continue during menstruation if headache and other unwanted symptoms persist. Estrogen in patches, gels, or pills may also be recommended for hormone-induced migraines in women.
