Close the curtains, can’t bear any noise and lie on the bed until you hopefully feel better soon. Chances are you know what we’re talking about right now: migraines. This terrible attack of (throbbing) headache, nausea and flashing affects women much more often than men. In women, the symptoms also last longer and are more severe. But why actually?
Hormones and Migraines
what the hell is the deal with women and migraines? Why do we suffer from this so much more than men – as if Mother Nature didn’t already bless us with enough other ills. And of course, also when it comes to migraines, it is our hormones that have a finger in the pie again.
Nutrition Therapist Thalia Pellegrini explains that hormonal fluctuations are a major trigger for women who suffer from migraines. “More than half of these women notice a link between their periods and migraines,” says Pellegrini Stylist UK. “And 70 percent of these women find that they have more symptoms just before or during their period.”
Menstrual migraine
These so-called menstrual migraines are thought to be caused by a drop in estrogen levels when your menstrual cycle is coming to an end – just before your period. In addition, the hormone prostaglandin is also involved. Women who experience heavy periods often experience higher levels of this hormone. And you guessed it: that too can contribute to menstrual migraines.
To find out exactly whether you also suffer from menstrual migraines, experts recommend keeping a migraine diary for about three months. Write down when you experience migraine symptoms and also note which day of your cycle it is (if you have a good view of this). Menstrual migraines often occur two days before your period to three days during your period. And this happens during at least two of the three months.
Disadvantages and what to do
An ‘ordinary’ migraine is annoying enough – and actually there is nothing normal about it – but a menstrual migraine can be even more severe. From research published in the medical journal Headache shows that menstrual migraines last longer than ‘normal’ migraines – again, nothing normal about but you get the point. In addition, menstrual migraines also respond less to possible treatments.
Do you suspect you have menstrual migraines? Talk to your doctor about this and discuss the options for treatment. And don’t let it get you down too quickly. It still happens a lot that women with menstrual migraines are not taken seriously. According to the National Migraine Center, this form of migraine often leads to an ‘under-diagnosis’ by doctors.
In addition, talk about birth control choices, even if you are not sexually active. A hormonal IUD (the Mirena IUD) can help manage the symptoms of menstrual migraines. Also, estrogen patches provide relief for many women.
Source: Stylist | Image: iStock