Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEstrogenGeneticsTriggersPreventionTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Estrogen
Genetics
Triggers
Prevention
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Men are three times less likely to experiencemigrainesthan women. Research suggests that even when they do have migraine attacks, the pain is less severe than it typically is in women.
There are many reasons why men are less likely to suffer from migraines, including differences in genetics, migraine triggers, and levels ofestrogenin the body.
This article will discuss why, and how, migraines are different in men than in women.
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The hormone estrogen is closely linked to migraines. There are three types of estrogen:
Estrogen is found in male and female bodies. Some research has indicated that men who often experience migraines have higher levels of estradiol in their bodies than men who do not get migraine attacks.
Estrogen and Migraines
Studies have shown that fluctuating levels of estrogen, which are common during themenstrual cycleand in pregnancy, can bring on migraine attacks.
It’s not clear why the fluctuation of estrogen leads to a migraine attack. Some research suggests that it might be related to the impact that estrogen has on levels of the neurotransmitterserotonin, which regulates pain and mood.
Estrogen can also alter blood pressure and blood vessels—two factors that are associated with migraine attacks.
While the number of reported migraines in men is low, the prevalence of migraine attacks in men might in fact be higher. Studies suggest that men are less likely than women toconsult a doctorabout their migraines, which means more men might be experiencing them than statistics show.
Genetics play a crucial role in the development of migraines. Studies have shown that you are twice as likely to get migraines if you have a first-degree relative (someone who shares roughly 50% of their genes with you) who has migraines.
How to Prevent Migraines
Many migraine triggers may affect men differently than they do women. One major trigger for male migraines is physical exertion. However, physical exertion is different for everyone depending on their fitness level.
For some men, intense exercise is a trigger. For others, walking up the stairs is enough to bring on a migraine.
A 2021 study found that the most common self-reported migraine triggers in men were stress, bright lights, and sleep deprivation.
There are also other lifestyle factors than can be migraine triggers for men, including:
When to See a DoctorThere are some symptoms that can accompany a headache that suggest the cause is something more serious than a migraine. If you have a headache and any of these symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention:Stiff neckHighfeverDouble visionSeizuresConfusionWeak musclesChanges in your speech
When to See a Doctor
There are some symptoms that can accompany a headache that suggest the cause is something more serious than a migraine. If you have a headache and any of these symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention:Stiff neckHighfeverDouble visionSeizuresConfusionWeak musclesChanges in your speech
There are some symptoms that can accompany a headache that suggest the cause is something more serious than a migraine. If you have a headache and any of these symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention:
Some general tips for preventing a migraine in men include:
If you have migraine attacks that are frequent andchronic, there are some preventive medications that your doctor might prescribe to help prevent attacks. Some medications that are often used as preventive measures include:
These medications are designed to keep a migraine from happening. In the event that a migraine does occur, treatment for the pain is often needed.
What to Do When You Have a Migraine
Migraine treatmentfor men is similar to the treatment for women. Treatments used for migraines include:
Research has shown that men are more likely to use over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as acetaminophenandibuprofento treat migraine symptoms, while women are more likely to use prescription medications.
Aspirincan also be used to help treat migraine attacks in men. Aspirin is especially helpful for men because they have an increased risk of heart disease.Some research suggests that aspirin can act as a preventive measure against heart attack or stroke, which is why using it to treat migraines in men might be beneficial.
How Migraines Are Treated
Summary
Research suggests that men are three times less likely to experience migraines than women, but those numbers might not be accurate, as men are also less likely than women to see a doctor for a migraine.
There are many reasons that men experience migraines less often than women do—from differences in genetics to lifestyle factors like intense exercise.
Finding what works for you can be a trial-and-error process, but once you do, it will be much easier tocope with migraines.
The best way to prevent migraines is to identify and keep track of your triggers. In some cases, preventive medications can help manage the frequency of your attacks. Treatment for migraines can involve both prescription and OTC pain medications.
A Word From Verywell
Preventing and treating your migraines becomes much easier once you know what your triggers are. The debilitating pain of a migraine can be difficult to cope with, but there are many ways to ensure that you have less frequent attacks.
The pain felt with a headache can be in the head, face, or upper neck, while migraine pain is typically localized to one side of the head. The causes are also often different; however, some factors, such as being dehydrated, can trigger both a migraine or a headache.
Amigraine auraoccurs prior to the onset of a migraine or during a migraine attack. It comes with temporary disturbances that can affect your vision, speech, balance, and hearing.A migraine aura typically comes on roughly an hour before the migraine attack.
COVID-19 and Migraines: What You Should Know
15 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.van Oosterhout WPJ, Schoonman GG, van Zwet EW, et al.Female sex hormones in men with migraine.Neurology.2018 Jul 24;91(4):e374-e381. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000005855Scher AI, Wang SJ, Katsarava Z, et al.Epidemiology of migraine in men: Results from the Chronic Migraine Epidemiology and Outcomes (CaMEO) Study.Cephalalgia.2019 Feb;39(2):296-305. doi:10.1177/0333102418786266Hormone Health Network.Estrogen.Chai NC, Peterlin BL, Calhoun AH.Migraine and estrogen.Curr Opin Neurol.2014 Jun;27(3):315-324. doi:10.1097/WCO.0000000000000091Rossi P, Nappi G.Migraine in men: fact sheet. A publication to mark European Migraine Day of Action 2014.Funct Neurol.2014 Jul-Sep;29(3):149-151.Bron C, Sutherland HG, Griffiths LR.Exploring the Hereditary Nature of Migraine.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat.2021 Apr 22;17:1183-1194. doi:10.2147/NDT.S282562National Headache Foundation.How does migraine impact men?.van Casteren DS, Verhagen IE, Onderwater GL, et al.Sex differences in prevalence of migraine trigger factors: A cross-sectional study.Cephalalgia.2021 May;41(6):643-648. doi:10.1177/0333102420974362Zaeem Z, Zhou L, Dilli E.Headaches: a Review of the Role of Dietary Factors.Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep.2016 Nov;16(11):101. doi:10.1007/s11910-016-0702-1Silberstein SD.Preventive Migraine Treatment.Continuum (Minneap Minn).2015 Aug;21(4 Headache):973-989. doi:10.1212/CON.0000000000000199Deen M, Christensen CE, Hougaard A, et al.Serotonergic mechanisms in the migraine brain - a systematic review.Cephalalgia.2017 Mar;37(3):251-264. doi:10.1177/0333102416640501Gazerani P, Cairns BE.Sex-Specific Pharmacotherapy for Migraine: A Narrative Review.Front Neurosci.2020 Mar 20;14:222. doi:10.3389/fnins.2020.00222Mohanty D, Lippmann S.CGRP Inhibitors for Migraine.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2020;17(4-6):39-40. doi:Ittaman SV, VanWormer JJ, Rezkalla SH.The role of aspirin in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.Clin Med Res.2014 Dec;12(3-4):147-154. doi:10.3121/cmr.2013.1197DeLange JM, Cutrer FM.Our evolving understanding of migraine with aura.Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2014 Oct;18(10):453. doi:10.1007/s11916-014-0453-0
15 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.van Oosterhout WPJ, Schoonman GG, van Zwet EW, et al.Female sex hormones in men with migraine.Neurology.2018 Jul 24;91(4):e374-e381. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000005855Scher AI, Wang SJ, Katsarava Z, et al.Epidemiology of migraine in men: Results from the Chronic Migraine Epidemiology and Outcomes (CaMEO) Study.Cephalalgia.2019 Feb;39(2):296-305. doi:10.1177/0333102418786266Hormone Health Network.Estrogen.Chai NC, Peterlin BL, Calhoun AH.Migraine and estrogen.Curr Opin Neurol.2014 Jun;27(3):315-324. doi:10.1097/WCO.0000000000000091Rossi P, Nappi G.Migraine in men: fact sheet. A publication to mark European Migraine Day of Action 2014.Funct Neurol.2014 Jul-Sep;29(3):149-151.Bron C, Sutherland HG, Griffiths LR.Exploring the Hereditary Nature of Migraine.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat.2021 Apr 22;17:1183-1194. doi:10.2147/NDT.S282562National Headache Foundation.How does migraine impact men?.van Casteren DS, Verhagen IE, Onderwater GL, et al.Sex differences in prevalence of migraine trigger factors: A cross-sectional study.Cephalalgia.2021 May;41(6):643-648. doi:10.1177/0333102420974362Zaeem Z, Zhou L, Dilli E.Headaches: a Review of the Role of Dietary Factors.Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep.2016 Nov;16(11):101. doi:10.1007/s11910-016-0702-1Silberstein SD.Preventive Migraine Treatment.Continuum (Minneap Minn).2015 Aug;21(4 Headache):973-989. doi:10.1212/CON.0000000000000199Deen M, Christensen CE, Hougaard A, et al.Serotonergic mechanisms in the migraine brain - a systematic review.Cephalalgia.2017 Mar;37(3):251-264. doi:10.1177/0333102416640501Gazerani P, Cairns BE.Sex-Specific Pharmacotherapy for Migraine: A Narrative Review.Front Neurosci.2020 Mar 20;14:222. doi:10.3389/fnins.2020.00222Mohanty D, Lippmann S.CGRP Inhibitors for Migraine.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2020;17(4-6):39-40. doi:Ittaman SV, VanWormer JJ, Rezkalla SH.The role of aspirin in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.Clin Med Res.2014 Dec;12(3-4):147-154. doi:10.3121/cmr.2013.1197DeLange JM, Cutrer FM.Our evolving understanding of migraine with aura.Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2014 Oct;18(10):453. doi:10.1007/s11916-014-0453-0
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.
van Oosterhout WPJ, Schoonman GG, van Zwet EW, et al.Female sex hormones in men with migraine.Neurology.2018 Jul 24;91(4):e374-e381. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000005855Scher AI, Wang SJ, Katsarava Z, et al.Epidemiology of migraine in men: Results from the Chronic Migraine Epidemiology and Outcomes (CaMEO) Study.Cephalalgia.2019 Feb;39(2):296-305. doi:10.1177/0333102418786266Hormone Health Network.Estrogen.Chai NC, Peterlin BL, Calhoun AH.Migraine and estrogen.Curr Opin Neurol.2014 Jun;27(3):315-324. doi:10.1097/WCO.0000000000000091Rossi P, Nappi G.Migraine in men: fact sheet. A publication to mark European Migraine Day of Action 2014.Funct Neurol.2014 Jul-Sep;29(3):149-151.Bron C, Sutherland HG, Griffiths LR.Exploring the Hereditary Nature of Migraine.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat.2021 Apr 22;17:1183-1194. doi:10.2147/NDT.S282562National Headache Foundation.How does migraine impact men?.van Casteren DS, Verhagen IE, Onderwater GL, et al.Sex differences in prevalence of migraine trigger factors: A cross-sectional study.Cephalalgia.2021 May;41(6):643-648. doi:10.1177/0333102420974362Zaeem Z, Zhou L, Dilli E.Headaches: a Review of the Role of Dietary Factors.Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep.2016 Nov;16(11):101. doi:10.1007/s11910-016-0702-1Silberstein SD.Preventive Migraine Treatment.Continuum (Minneap Minn).2015 Aug;21(4 Headache):973-989. doi:10.1212/CON.0000000000000199Deen M, Christensen CE, Hougaard A, et al.Serotonergic mechanisms in the migraine brain - a systematic review.Cephalalgia.2017 Mar;37(3):251-264. doi:10.1177/0333102416640501Gazerani P, Cairns BE.Sex-Specific Pharmacotherapy for Migraine: A Narrative Review.Front Neurosci.2020 Mar 20;14:222. doi:10.3389/fnins.2020.00222Mohanty D, Lippmann S.CGRP Inhibitors for Migraine.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2020;17(4-6):39-40. doi:Ittaman SV, VanWormer JJ, Rezkalla SH.The role of aspirin in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.Clin Med Res.2014 Dec;12(3-4):147-154. doi:10.3121/cmr.2013.1197DeLange JM, Cutrer FM.Our evolving understanding of migraine with aura.Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2014 Oct;18(10):453. doi:10.1007/s11916-014-0453-0
van Oosterhout WPJ, Schoonman GG, van Zwet EW, et al.Female sex hormones in men with migraine.Neurology.2018 Jul 24;91(4):e374-e381. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000005855
Scher AI, Wang SJ, Katsarava Z, et al.Epidemiology of migraine in men: Results from the Chronic Migraine Epidemiology and Outcomes (CaMEO) Study.Cephalalgia.2019 Feb;39(2):296-305. doi:10.1177/0333102418786266
Hormone Health Network.Estrogen.
Chai NC, Peterlin BL, Calhoun AH.Migraine and estrogen.Curr Opin Neurol.2014 Jun;27(3):315-324. doi:10.1097/WCO.0000000000000091
Rossi P, Nappi G.Migraine in men: fact sheet. A publication to mark European Migraine Day of Action 2014.Funct Neurol.2014 Jul-Sep;29(3):149-151.
Bron C, Sutherland HG, Griffiths LR.Exploring the Hereditary Nature of Migraine.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat.2021 Apr 22;17:1183-1194. doi:10.2147/NDT.S282562
National Headache Foundation.How does migraine impact men?.
van Casteren DS, Verhagen IE, Onderwater GL, et al.Sex differences in prevalence of migraine trigger factors: A cross-sectional study.Cephalalgia.2021 May;41(6):643-648. doi:10.1177/0333102420974362
Zaeem Z, Zhou L, Dilli E.Headaches: a Review of the Role of Dietary Factors.Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep.2016 Nov;16(11):101. doi:10.1007/s11910-016-0702-1
Silberstein SD.Preventive Migraine Treatment.Continuum (Minneap Minn).2015 Aug;21(4 Headache):973-989. doi:10.1212/CON.0000000000000199
Deen M, Christensen CE, Hougaard A, et al.Serotonergic mechanisms in the migraine brain - a systematic review.Cephalalgia.2017 Mar;37(3):251-264. doi:10.1177/0333102416640501
Gazerani P, Cairns BE.Sex-Specific Pharmacotherapy for Migraine: A Narrative Review.Front Neurosci.2020 Mar 20;14:222. doi:10.3389/fnins.2020.00222
Mohanty D, Lippmann S.CGRP Inhibitors for Migraine.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2020;17(4-6):39-40. doi:
Ittaman SV, VanWormer JJ, Rezkalla SH.The role of aspirin in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.Clin Med Res.2014 Dec;12(3-4):147-154. doi:10.3121/cmr.2013.1197
DeLange JM, Cutrer FM.Our evolving understanding of migraine with aura.Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2014 Oct;18(10):453. doi:10.1007/s11916-014-0453-0
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