What Are Hormone Headaches?
Many women experience headaches caused by changes in their hormones, and more than half of women who get migraines notice a link with their periods. Hormone headaches, also referred to as menstrual migraines, tend to be particularly severe. Due to the natural drop in oestrogen levels, migraine is most likely to develop in either the 2 days leading up to a period or the first 3 days during a period. Attacks during this time are typically more severe than migraines at other times of the month and are more likely to return the next day.
Periods are not the only trigger of hormone headaches.
Other Hormone Headache causes include:
· The combined oral contraceptive pill – some women find their headaches improve while they’re on the pill, but others report more frequent attacks, especially in the pill-free week, when oestrogen levels drop
· The menopause – headaches usually worsen as you approach the menopause, partly because periods come more often and partly because the normal hormone cycle is disrupted
· Pregnancy – headaches can get worse in the first few weeks of pregnancy, but they usually improve or stop completely during the last 6 months; they do not harm the baby