Menopausal women have more migraine headaches

Women's migraine headache problems rise in the years shortly before and at the start of menopause, researchers say. That news might feel like vindication to the women who suspected as much but didn't always get support from their doctors.

"In the past, physicians had not really recognized the effect of hormones on migraines," said Vincent Martin, lead author and codirector of the University of Cincinnati Headache and Facial Pain Program. It was presented last month at the American Headache Society annual meeting in Los Angeles.

"Headaches do increase during this time period. It's what women have been telling us for years," Martin said. "Perimenopause and early menopause are very turbulent times for women with migraines."

Migraine headaches, he said, are a menopause symptom, as are hot flashes, depression, and irritability.

Some 38 million Americans, most of them women, get migraine headaches. "Ours is the first study to demonstrate that the frequency of migraine attacks increases during the menopausal transition," Martin said.

A simplistic view is that falling estrogen levels cause headaches and that hormone replacement should be considered. But it's possible the cause is another change in hormonal rhythms. More work is needed to learn what is going on. - Los Angeles Times