migraines during menopause

Headaches with throbbing in the head, nausea, vomiting and temporary depression – women suffer from migraines more often than men. According to scientific findings, fluctuations in hormone levels due to the female cycle seem to play a role. For some women, an existing migraine goes away with the onset of menopause, but for others, migraine symptoms also worsen as menopause progresses. Read here what is behind it and what helps against the symptoms.

Causes: Why migraines during menopause?

As a rule, migraines do not appear for the first time as a result of menopause but already exist before and worsen during this phase of life. However, the menopause often leads to an improvement or even a disappearance of the symptoms. As with migraines in general, it is often not possible to determine what causes the often excruciating pain and other symptoms such as nausea and vomiting or ocular migraines with visual disturbances, especially in the case of migraines during menopause.

For one thing, fluctuations in hormone levels can upset the delicate balance in the brain, thereby promoting migraines. The fluctuations in estrogen levels around menopause, which could trigger migraine attacks with and without aura, are particularly suspected – especially the drop in hormones causing problems for many women. On the other hand, previous illnesses, age-related wear and tear on the cervical spine or depression can also lead to migraines during menopause.

Caution is also required with hormone replacement therapy: Hormone preparations, such as those are often prescribed to women with severe symptoms during menopause, can, according to a study by the Harvard Medical School in Boston, worsen migraines and, in some cases, even cause them in the first place. It is advisable to weigh the advantages and disadvantages individually.

 

What to do against hormone-related migraines?

When treating a migraine, it is first necessary to find the causes of the headache attacks because not every migraine during menopause is hormonal. If the symptoms result from another disease, this should be treated first. In most cases, the headache can also be treated well, or it will go away alone.

Treatment is more difficult if no specific cause for the migraine or its increase during menopause can be found. Since people often suffer from other diseases as they get older, migraine treatment must always be individually adapted to the previous illnesses but also to the severity of the symptoms.

Treatment for moderate and severe attacks

For moderate to severe migraine attacks, painkillers can help fight the symptoms. Nowadays, numerous remedies can work against both the headache and the accompanying symptoms of a migraine.

These include, for example, triptans. However, these have the disadvantage that they can narrow the vessels under certain circumstances. They may, therefore, be unsuitable for people who suffer from coronary heart disease or circulatory disorders. In any case, please consult a doctor about taking it or about alternative treatment.

 

Treatment for mild migraine attacks

If women only suffer from migraines now and then during menopause or if the individual attacks are not very severe, affected women can try to get by without medication. Simple measures often help to relieve the pain – such as resting in a darkened room or using cooling compresses. Magnesium tablets can also be an option, as they have an antispasmodic effect.

In addition, attempts can be made to compensate for the hormone deficiency caused by menopause using phytohormones (phytoestrogens). These replacement hormones are found in some plants and herbs and can help relieve migraines. These phytohormones include, for example:

• Monk pepper
• yarrow
• Wilder Yams
• sprouted fenugreek
• Papayasame

Prevent migraine attacks during menopause.

Additionally, preventive measures are recommended to prevent migraine attacks during menopause. This includes getting enough sleep, fluids, regular meals, and exercise. In addition, relaxation techniques or acupuncture, for example, can help prevent migraines.

Since fluctuations in estrogen levels are considered possible triggers of migraine attacks, there is a presumption that stable estrogen levels could have a positive effect. However, attempts to substitute estrogen in the form of tablets, gels, or patches have so far not proven to be a suitable means of preventing migraines during menopause.