Women and migraine. Although both
males and females seem to be equally affected by
migraine, the condition is more common in adult
women. Both sexes may develop migraine in infancy,
but most often the disorder begins between the ages
of 5 and 35.
The relationship between female hormones and
migraine is still unclear. Women may have "menstrual
migraine" - headaches around the time of their
menstrual period - which may disappear during
pregnancy. Other women develop migraine for the
first time when they are pregnant. Some are first
affected after menopause.
The effect of oral contraceptives on headaches is
perplexing. Scientists report that some women with
migraine who take birth control pills experience
more frequent and severe attacks. However, a small
percentage of women have fewer and less severe
migraine headaches when they take birth control
pills. And normal women who do not suffer from
headaches may develop migraines as a side effect
when they use oral contraceptives. Investigators
around the world are studying hormonal changes in
women with migraine in the hope of identifying the
specific ways these naturally occurring chemicals
cause headaches.
National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
National Institutes of Health
Brain Resources and Information Network
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