Menopause Migraine

Menopause Migraine

“Migraine tends to worsen in the years leading up to the menopause, with attacks occurring more frequently and sometimes also lasting longer”.1

Umbrella

What may the Menopause Migraine Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Hormonal Headaches/Migraines
  • Menopausal/Menopause Headaches/Migraines
  • Perimenopausal/Perimenopause Headaches/Migraines

Perimenopause

Is there an association between perimenopause and migraine?

In Migraine and Menopause: Migraine During Perimenopause the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) explain:

“Perimenopause is the time leading up to your final period (menopause), when oestrogen and other hormones levels drop.

Many women find their migraine changes during perimenopause. Some women have worse migraine symptoms and others experience no change. It’s also a time when women can get migraine for the first time”.2

On page one in Migraine and HRT: What Is Likely To Happen To Migraine? the (British) Women’s Health Concern note:

“Migraine tends to worsen in the years leading up to the menopause, with attacks occurring more frequently and sometimes also lasting longer. Many women start to notice that the attacks are more likely to start a few days before or during their periods. These perimenstrual migraine attacks often last longer, are more severe, and are less responsive to treatment compared to attacks at other times of the cycle. Periods can become erratic and more frequent, which also means more migraine”.3

Menopausal Symptoms

Can some menopausal symptoms trigger migraine?

In Migraine and Menopause: Why Can Migraine Change During Perimenopause? the JH explain:

“Your experience of migraine triggers and attacks can change during perimenopause.

Hormonal fluctuations can make your brain more sensitive to migraine. Women with menstrually-related migraine may find their migraine gets worse or needs to be managed differently in the lead-up to menopause.

Some menopausal symptoms can trigger migraine. For example:

  • Poor sleep
  • Dehydration due to hot flushes and night sweats
  • Heavy periods
  • Anxiety
  • Depression.

You may have extra family and work pressures at this stage of life, which can cause stress and trigger migraine”.4 

Headache DiaryMenopause Migraine

Where may I find a headache diary?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Headache Diary

  1. Diaries and Apps
  2. Headache Diaries & Migraine Diaries [+ Formats]
  3. Headache Diary [+ Format]
  4. Keeping A Headache Diary: Headache Diary [+ Format]
  5. Tracking Diaries [+ Format]

HRT

Can hormone replacement therapy (HRT) help?

On page one in Migraine and HRT: Can HRT Help? the WHC elaborate on:

“Many women notice that migraine is more likely to occur when they have bad hot flushes and night sweats. Since HRT is very effective at controlling these menopause symptoms, it may help reduce the likelihood of migraine but is not in itself an effective migraine treatment. Further, if started too early in the perimenopause when estrogen levels can fluctuate widely, the addition of HRT can worsen migraine.

The type of HRT is important as some forms of HRT can create more hormone fluctuations, triggering migraine. This is more likely to occur with oral HRT than with patches or gel. We generally recommend that women with migraine who need HRT should use estrogen patches, gel or spray, known as transdermal estrogen, as these provide more stable hormone levels than tablets”.5

Health Care Provider

What if I get headaches?

If you get headaches it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. Together you can identify any patterns, discuss your options and if required, agree on who may be the most appropriate health care provider to help you.

In Headaches: See A GP If the (United Kingdom) NHS also note:

“See a GP if:

  • Your headache keeps coming back
  • Painkillers do not help and your headache gets worse
  • You have a bad throbbing pain at the front or side of your head – it could be a migraine or, more rarely, a cluster headache
  • You feel sick, vomit and find light or noise painful
  • You regularly get headaches before or during your period”.6

Who is a GP?

DotS and/or DotC (Depending on the Country) a GP may be a qualified and registered general practitioner, a medical practitioner, a medical doctor or a doctor.

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Menopause Migraine?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Menopause Migraine?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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New or Updated

  1. A Guide To Finding Immediate Relief During A Migraine Attack
  2. Complementary & Alternative Therapies: Non-Hormonal Treatments for Menopause Symptoms
  3. Complementary Medicines and Therapies: Options for Menopausal Symptoms
    Menopause Migraine
  4. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  5. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2025 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Nutrition At Menopause and Why It Is Important
  6. Diaries and Apps
  7. Does Caffeine Help Migraines?
  8. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  9. Find A Practitioner [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  10. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  11. HRT Questions Answered
  12. Headache Diaries & Migraine Diaries [+ Formats]
  13. Headache Diary [+ Format]
  14. Headache Types [A-Z]
  15. Headache – Multiply Languages
  16. Headacheaustralia.org.au [Migraine and Headache Australia]
  17. Headaches and Hormones: What’s the Connection? During Perimenopause and Menopause
  18. Headaches.org [National Headache Foundation, United States]: Resources
  19. Headaches
    Menopause Migraine
  20. Headaches
  21. Headaches: Reduce Stress To Prevent the Pain
  22. Headaches: Overview – What Are the Types of Headache? Primary Headaches
  23. Heads Up: What Your Headache Location Means
  24. Here’s Why You’re Always Waking Up With Headaches
  25. Hormones & Migraine: Why Women Are More Affected | Dr Louise Newson
  26. How To Get Rid of A Sinus Headache
  27. How To Quit Caffeine Without A Headache
  28. How To Talk To Your Doctor About Menopause
    Menopause Migraine
  29. Keeping A Headache Diary: Headache Diary [+ Format]
  30. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Supporting Someone Through the Menopause [+ Video: Men Don’t Need To Know About Menopause] [Other Languages and Formats]
  31. Managing Migraine During Menopause and Perimenopause – Migraine Master Class: Webinar 15
  32. Managing Migraines At Home
  33. Managing Tension Headaches At Home
  34. Mayo Clinic Minute: Better-Tolerated Treatments for Migraine Pain [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  35. Mayo Clinic Q&A: Managing Migraine: What’s Right for Me?
  36. Menopause
  37. Menopause
    Menopause Symptoms
  38. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Menopause Migraine
  39. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    Menopause Migraine
  40. Menopause and Migraines: New Findings Point To Power of Prevention
  41. Menopause and Sleep
  42. Menopause, Perimenopause, and Migraine
  43. Menopause, Perimenopause, and Migraine: Understanding the Intersections and Implications for Treatment
  44. Menstrual Migraine
  45. Menstrual Migraine With Dr. Claire Sandoe | MHAM Live
  46. Menstrual Migraines (Hormone Headaches)
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  49. Migraine
  50. Migraine 101: What You Should Know
  51. Migraine Headaches
  52. Menopause Migraine Migraine In Australian Women
  53. Migraine In Women
  54. Migraine Patient Toolkit: A Guide To Your Care
  55. Migraine Patient Toolkit: Living Well With Migraine
  56. Migraine Triggers
  57. Migraine and Food
  58. Migraine and HRT
  59. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month 2025 [June]
  60. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month 2025 [June]: MHAM Live Replays – Dismissed and Misunderstood With Dr. Dawn Buse | MHAM Live
  61. Migraine and Headache Diary
  62. Migraine and Hormones
  63. Migraine and Hormones: Why Oestrogen and Testosterone Matter More Than You Think
  64. Migraine and Menopause
  65. Migraine and Menopause
  66. Migraine and Other Headache Disorders
  67. Migraine and the Menopause Transition
  68. Migraines and Hormones | Dr Louise Newson
  69. Migraines and Menopause
  70. Migraines and Menopause: What’s the Connection? | The Dr Louise Newson Podcast
  71. Migraine: Common Triggers
  72. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Headaches – What You Need To Know
  73. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Headache Information Page
  74. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Migraine Information Page
  75. Nationalmigrainecentre.org.uk
  76. Navigating Menopause Care Resource Guide
    Menopause Migraine
  77. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2024: Menopausal Migraines
  78. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2025: Lifestyle Medicine
  79. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2025: The Perimenopause Journey: An Adaptive Reproductive Phase
  80. Perimenopause
  81. Perimenopause
  82. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  83. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
  84. Perimenopause and Migraine
  85. Reducing Migraines Through Lifestyle Modifications
  86. Surprising Menopause Symptoms | Dr Louise Newson Live
  87. Tension Headache
  88. Tension-Type Headaches: Self-Care Measures for Relief
  89. Tracking Diaries [+ Format]
  90. Understanding The Relationship Between Perimenopause, Menopause & Migraine | Webinar
  91. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  92. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Migraine Headaches
  93. What Is the Difference Between Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause?
  94. When Does Perimenopause Start and How Do You Define the Beginning
  95. When Headaches Won’t Go Away
  96. Why Am I Waking Up With A Migraine?
  97. Why Can Perimenopause Make Migraine Worse?
  98. Why Is Migraine More Common In Women Than Men?
  99. Women and Migraines: What You Need To Know
  100. World Menopause Day 2025
    Menopause Migraine

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Migraine and HRT: What Is Likely To Happen To Migraine? Reviewed: November 2023:1. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/migraine-and-hrt/ Accessed: 26 March 2026
  2. Migraine and Menopause: Migraine During Perimenopause. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/migraine/migraine-and-menopause/ Accessed: 26 March 2026
  3. Migraine and HRT: What Is Likely To Happen To Migraine? Reviewed: November 2023:1. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/migraine-and-hrt/ Accessed: 26 March 2026
  4. Migraine and Menopause: Why Can Migraine Change During Perimenopause? Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/migraine/migraine-and-menopause/ Accessed: 26 March 2026
  5. Migraine and HRT: Can HRT Help? Reviewed: November 2023:1. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/migraine-and-hrt/ Accessed: 26 March 2026
  6. Headaches: See A GP If. Page Last Reviewed: 17 April 2024. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/headaches/#when-to-get-medical-help Accessed: 26 March 2026
Topic Last Updated: 26 March 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 26 March 2026

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