Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are Headaches and Migraines?SymptomsTreatmentWhen to Seek TreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Are Headaches and Migraines?
Symptoms
Treatment
When to Seek Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Menopause and headaches are often intertwined. For some women,menopausemarks the end of monthly hormonal headaches. But, the transition into menopause can trigger more frequent headaches and migraines.
This article discusses menopause and headaches. It also explains how shifting hormones cause different types of headaches related to menopause. This article also provides ways to find relief from hormonal headaches and possibly even prevent headaches and migraines during menopause.
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A Note on Gender and Sex TerminologyVerywell Health acknowledges thatsex and gender are related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.
A Note on Gender and Sex Terminology
Verywell Health acknowledges thatsex and gender are related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.
A headache is mild to moderate pain in the head or face area, usually on both sides of the head. Tension headaches are the most common type. Tension headache pain is often described as dull or like a tight band wrapped around the head. Sometimes, the pain may affect the neck or the back of the head. Headache discomfort may last a few hours to a few days.
Up to 25% of people experience what’s known as amigraine auraleading up to the migraine pain. The aura may involve visual disturbances, such as flashing lights and blind spots. There may also be stroke-like symptoms, such as numbness, confusion, trouble speaking, andvertigo(a spinning sensation).
Migraine symptoms can mimic symptoms of other life-threatening conditions like ananeurysm, stroke, ormeningitis. Call 911 or seek immediate medical attention if your head pain is combined with trouble seeing, fever, stiff neck, confusion, slurred speech, or any other new or unusual symptoms.
Migraine and Stroke: Similarities and Linkages
Are Headaches a Symptom of Menopause?
Headaches and migraines are a common symptom of menopause. Research shows that hormones, especially sex hormones likeestrogen, play a large role in the development of migraines. This partially explains why women experience migraines at about twice the rate of men.
Any kind of hormone fluctuation can contribute to the development of a migraine.During menopause, a drop in estrogen levels—the primary sex hormone in cisgender females—is thought to be the primary cause of menopausal migraines.
In the years leading up to menopause, yourmenstrual cyclechanges. Periods become more irregular, and there is an uptick in hormonal headaches.Hot flashes and night sweats can also trigger migraines duringperimenopauseand menopause.
Many women find their monthly hormonal migraines and headaches resolve after menopause. However, some women experience an increase in hormonal headaches as estrogen levels plummet even further. Many women experience more frequent tension headaches in the post-menopausal years.
What Menopause Medications Can Cause Headaches?
Medications used totreat menopause symptomscan sometimes contribute to headaches. This includes hormone replacement therapy (HRT), such as estradiol and progesterone.
While often helpful in relieving hot flashes and other uncomfortable symptoms of menopause, HRT can trigger headaches in some women.If you suspect HRT is causing your headaches, talk to your healthcare provider.
Herbal remedies used to balance hormones and relieve menopause symptoms may also cause headaches. These include:
Caffeine in MedicationsMany forms ofExcedrininclude caffeine, which often relieves headaches. However, caffeine can be a headache trigger for some people.
Caffeine in Medications
Many forms ofExcedrininclude caffeine, which often relieves headaches. However, caffeine can be a headache trigger for some people.
Treatments and Management of Menopausal Headaches
A two-pronged approach of prevention and treatment is recommended for menopausal headache relief. Over-the-counter and prescription medications help relieve symptoms. Lifestyle changes, hormone therapy, and prophylactic (preventive) medications can help to reduce headache frequency.
Treating Menopausal Migraines
Some migraines respond well to over-the-counter medications. According to research, the combination of 500 milligrams (mg) acetaminophen, 500 mg aspirin, and 130 mg caffeine—the amounts found in two Excedrin tablets—is often highly effective. You may need to to take two tables every six hours until the migraine resolves (typically up to three days).
For migraine-associated nausea, Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Dramamine (dimenhydrinate), or Bonine (meclizine) can help. However, these OTC medicines can make you drowsy, so use caution.
How to Relieve Nausea from a Migraine
Prescription medications used to treat migraine pain and other symptoms include:
Non-drug treatments for migraine include lying down in a dark and quiet area. A cool rag on your forehead, the back of your neck, and over your eyes can help decrease pain, block out light, and reduce nausea.
Migraine Treatments: Everything You Need to Know
Treating Menopausal Tension Headaches
Tension headaches are often treated with OTCheadache medicines. These include:
Non-drug treatments for tension headaches include drinking more water, getting enough sleep, relieving stress levels, neck and shoulder massage, ice packs, and physical therapy to relieve muscle tension.
Tension Headaches: Triggers and Treatment
When to See a Healthcare Provider
For women in their 40s or 50s, menopause is one of many potential causes of headaches. If you experience frequent headaches or migraines, talk with your healthcare provider.
You should also seek medical care for any of the following symptoms:
Seek medical attention right away if your experience any of the following:
Summary
Hormonal headaches like migraine and tension headaches can become more frequent during perimenopause. Menopause sometimes relieves menstrual migraines but may trigger tension headaches.
Medications and lifestyle changes can help to relieve menopausal headaches. While at-home remedies can help, it’s best to see your healthcare provider for frequent or severe headaches. Prescription medications can treat and prevent hormonal headaches.
Frequently Asked QuestionsPerimenopause usually begins when a woman is in her 40s or 50s, with the average age of menopause being 52 years old.Menopause is considered premature when it occurs before age 40.Learn MoreWhen Does Menopause Start?In addition to headaches, other menopausesymptomsinclude:Changes in periodsHot flashesNight sweatsVaginal drynessDry skinForgetfulnessMood swingsLow sex driveTrouble sleepingUrinaryincontinence(leakage)
Perimenopause usually begins when a woman is in her 40s or 50s, with the average age of menopause being 52 years old.Menopause is considered premature when it occurs before age 40.Learn MoreWhen Does Menopause Start?
Perimenopause usually begins when a woman is in her 40s or 50s, with the average age of menopause being 52 years old.Menopause is considered premature when it occurs before age 40.
Learn MoreWhen Does Menopause Start?
In addition to headaches, other menopausesymptomsinclude:Changes in periodsHot flashesNight sweatsVaginal drynessDry skinForgetfulnessMood swingsLow sex driveTrouble sleepingUrinaryincontinence(leakage)
In addition to headaches, other menopausesymptomsinclude:
19 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lauritsen CG, Chua AL, Nahas SJ.Current treatment options: Headache related to menopause—diagnosis and management.Curr Treat Options Neurol.2018;20(4):7. doi:10.1007/s11940-018-0492-7Johns Hopkins Medicine.Headache.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Migraine headaches.Amiri P, Kazeminasab S, Nejadghaderi S, et al.Migraine: A review on its history, global epidemiology, risk factors, and comorbidities.Front Neurol. 2021;12(1):800605. doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.800605The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).Women’s health and menopause: headaches.MacGregor EA.Migraine, menopause and hormone replacement therapy.Post Reprod Health. 2018;24(1):11-18. doi:10.1177/2053369117731172Carturan P, Scorcine C, Fragoso Y.Migraine in the post-menopausal period is associated with higher levels of mood disorders, disability, and more menopausal symptoms.Arq Neuro-Psiquiatr. 2016 Dec;74(12):1-4. doi:10.1590/0004-282X20160153National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Black cohosh.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Evening primrose oil.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Gingko.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Asian ginseng.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Red clover.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.St. John’s wort.Nappi R, Tiranini L, Sacco S, De Matteis E, De Icco R, Tassorelli C.Role of estrogens in menstrual migraine.Cells. 2022 Apr;11(8):1355. doi:10.3390/cells11081355Diener HC, Gaul C, Lehmacher W, Weiser T.Aspirin, paracetamol (acetaminophen) and caffeine for the treatment of acute migraine attacks: A systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.Eur J Neurol. 2022;29(1):350-357. doi:10.1111/ene.15103Láinez M, García-Casado A, Gascón F.Optimal management of severe nausea and vomiting in migraine: improving patient outcomes.Patient Relat Outcome Meas. 2013;4(1):61-73. doi:10.2147/PROM.S31392Johns Hopkins Medicine.Tension headache.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office on Women’s Health.Menopause basics.Takahashi T, Johnson K.Menopause.Medical Clinics of North America. 2015;99(3):521-534. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2015.01.006.
19 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lauritsen CG, Chua AL, Nahas SJ.Current treatment options: Headache related to menopause—diagnosis and management.Curr Treat Options Neurol.2018;20(4):7. doi:10.1007/s11940-018-0492-7Johns Hopkins Medicine.Headache.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Migraine headaches.Amiri P, Kazeminasab S, Nejadghaderi S, et al.Migraine: A review on its history, global epidemiology, risk factors, and comorbidities.Front Neurol. 2021;12(1):800605. doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.800605The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).Women’s health and menopause: headaches.MacGregor EA.Migraine, menopause and hormone replacement therapy.Post Reprod Health. 2018;24(1):11-18. doi:10.1177/2053369117731172Carturan P, Scorcine C, Fragoso Y.Migraine in the post-menopausal period is associated with higher levels of mood disorders, disability, and more menopausal symptoms.Arq Neuro-Psiquiatr. 2016 Dec;74(12):1-4. doi:10.1590/0004-282X20160153National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Black cohosh.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Evening primrose oil.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Gingko.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Asian ginseng.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Red clover.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.St. John’s wort.Nappi R, Tiranini L, Sacco S, De Matteis E, De Icco R, Tassorelli C.Role of estrogens in menstrual migraine.Cells. 2022 Apr;11(8):1355. doi:10.3390/cells11081355Diener HC, Gaul C, Lehmacher W, Weiser T.Aspirin, paracetamol (acetaminophen) and caffeine for the treatment of acute migraine attacks: A systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.Eur J Neurol. 2022;29(1):350-357. doi:10.1111/ene.15103Láinez M, García-Casado A, Gascón F.Optimal management of severe nausea and vomiting in migraine: improving patient outcomes.Patient Relat Outcome Meas. 2013;4(1):61-73. doi:10.2147/PROM.S31392Johns Hopkins Medicine.Tension headache.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office on Women’s Health.Menopause basics.Takahashi T, Johnson K.Menopause.Medical Clinics of North America. 2015;99(3):521-534. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2015.01.006.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lauritsen CG, Chua AL, Nahas SJ.Current treatment options: Headache related to menopause—diagnosis and management.Curr Treat Options Neurol.2018;20(4):7. doi:10.1007/s11940-018-0492-7Johns Hopkins Medicine.Headache.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Migraine headaches.Amiri P, Kazeminasab S, Nejadghaderi S, et al.Migraine: A review on its history, global epidemiology, risk factors, and comorbidities.Front Neurol. 2021;12(1):800605. doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.800605The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).Women’s health and menopause: headaches.MacGregor EA.Migraine, menopause and hormone replacement therapy.Post Reprod Health. 2018;24(1):11-18. doi:10.1177/2053369117731172Carturan P, Scorcine C, Fragoso Y.Migraine in the post-menopausal period is associated with higher levels of mood disorders, disability, and more menopausal symptoms.Arq Neuro-Psiquiatr. 2016 Dec;74(12):1-4. doi:10.1590/0004-282X20160153National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Black cohosh.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Evening primrose oil.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Gingko.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Asian ginseng.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Red clover.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.St. John’s wort.Nappi R, Tiranini L, Sacco S, De Matteis E, De Icco R, Tassorelli C.Role of estrogens in menstrual migraine.Cells. 2022 Apr;11(8):1355. doi:10.3390/cells11081355Diener HC, Gaul C, Lehmacher W, Weiser T.Aspirin, paracetamol (acetaminophen) and caffeine for the treatment of acute migraine attacks: A systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.Eur J Neurol. 2022;29(1):350-357. doi:10.1111/ene.15103Láinez M, García-Casado A, Gascón F.Optimal management of severe nausea and vomiting in migraine: improving patient outcomes.Patient Relat Outcome Meas. 2013;4(1):61-73. doi:10.2147/PROM.S31392Johns Hopkins Medicine.Tension headache.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office on Women’s Health.Menopause basics.Takahashi T, Johnson K.Menopause.Medical Clinics of North America. 2015;99(3):521-534. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2015.01.006.
Lauritsen CG, Chua AL, Nahas SJ.Current treatment options: Headache related to menopause—diagnosis and management.Curr Treat Options Neurol.2018;20(4):7. doi:10.1007/s11940-018-0492-7
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Headache.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Migraine headaches.
Amiri P, Kazeminasab S, Nejadghaderi S, et al.Migraine: A review on its history, global epidemiology, risk factors, and comorbidities.Front Neurol. 2021;12(1):800605. doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.800605
The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).Women’s health and menopause: headaches.
MacGregor EA.Migraine, menopause and hormone replacement therapy.Post Reprod Health. 2018;24(1):11-18. doi:10.1177/2053369117731172
Carturan P, Scorcine C, Fragoso Y.Migraine in the post-menopausal period is associated with higher levels of mood disorders, disability, and more menopausal symptoms.Arq Neuro-Psiquiatr. 2016 Dec;74(12):1-4. doi:10.1590/0004-282X20160153
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Black cohosh.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Evening primrose oil.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Gingko.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Asian ginseng.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Red clover.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.St. John’s wort.
Nappi R, Tiranini L, Sacco S, De Matteis E, De Icco R, Tassorelli C.Role of estrogens in menstrual migraine.Cells. 2022 Apr;11(8):1355. doi:10.3390/cells11081355
Diener HC, Gaul C, Lehmacher W, Weiser T.Aspirin, paracetamol (acetaminophen) and caffeine for the treatment of acute migraine attacks: A systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.Eur J Neurol. 2022;29(1):350-357. doi:10.1111/ene.15103
Láinez M, García-Casado A, Gascón F.Optimal management of severe nausea and vomiting in migraine: improving patient outcomes.Patient Relat Outcome Meas. 2013;4(1):61-73. doi:10.2147/PROM.S31392
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Tension headache.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office on Women’s Health.Menopause basics.
Takahashi T, Johnson K.Menopause.Medical Clinics of North America. 2015;99(3):521-534. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2015.01.006.
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