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Is that a fact?

Migraines often improve as women enter menopause.

Correct! About two-thirds of menopausal women report their migraine symptoms improved.1

Incorrect. About two-thirds of menopausal women report their migraine symptoms improved.1

Make sure to consult your doctor about headache diagnosis and treatment

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Women & Migraines

If it seems like more women than men get migraines, it’s not in your head.

Approximately 3 out of 4 migraine sufferers are women.1

Stress as a culprit

Although stress, a key migraine trigger, is a fact of life for both men and women, women are more likely to be juggling work, family, and social responsibilities during the migraine-prone ages of 20 to 45.1 These also happen to be women’s peak reproductive years.

Hormones a factor, too

In fact, more than half of all migraines experienced by women happen around the time of their periods.1 However, few women experience migraines only at "that time of month."1

While the exact connection between menstruation and migraine remains unclear, here’s what we do know:

  • Levels of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone fall steeply just before a woman gets her period
  • This drop may trigger a migraine due to the role estrogen plays in the brain chemicals that regulate pain1

Fortunately, for most women, a combination of  lifestyle changes and treatment can make migraines manageable.

Your migraine diary

Keeping a migraine diary can help you keep track of the factors that may contribute to your headaches.


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