One question we are regularly asked at Migraine Specialist is whether perimenopause or menopause are connected and if menopause has an impact on the frequency and severity of headaches and migraines. We know that women are more likely to suffer from migraines and we know a lot of women in this demographic visit us at Migraine Specialist, so we wanted to share more information on this topic with our wider community.

“Does Perimenopause or Menopause have anything to do with my frequent headaches and migraines?” 

A number of our patients are women between the ages of 40-50 years old and many of them experience perimenopausal type symptoms including hot flushes, insomnia, night sweats, decreased libido and irritability. Many also experience an increased headache frequency during this time, so it’s no wonder they ask “is menopause and migraines connected?”

A study recently was undertaken to examine the relationship between headache frequency and menopausal transition in women with migraine. The study provided good evidence that high frequency headache is indeed increased during the perimenopausal period.

The identification of this increased risk during the menopausal transition is important, in that it suggests a need for effective migraine preventative treatment during this time of a woman’s life when they are also experiencing hormonal changes a during this stage of life. That’s where our team of specialists can help – if you are a woman who is suffering from regular headaches or migraines and at this stage of your life, get in touch with our team and we can provide some more information and steps to support your treatment.

Note: Information on this site is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

References:

Menopause are associated with High Frequency Headache in Women with Migraine Prevalence and Prevention Study , Martin et al, Headache 2016; 56:292-305