Prevention
Hormones and migraine
Menstrual cycles, pregnancy, postpartum changes, menopause, and hormonal medicines can affect migraine and should be discussed with a clinician.
Hormone changes can affect migraine for many people. Attacks may cluster before or during menstruation, and migraine patterns can change during pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, or menopause.
Menstrual migraine
Migraine attacks just before or during a period are often longer and more severe than attacks at other times. Tracking attacks against the menstrual cycle for several cycles can help a clinician decide whether targeted acute treatment or prevention is appropriate.
Pregnancy and postpartum
Pregnancy and postpartum migraine care should be clinician-guided. Some migraine medicines and supplements are not appropriate during pregnancy, while new or severe headache in pregnancy or soon after birth can signal serious conditions that need urgent assessment.
Hormonal medicines
Hormonal contraception or hormone therapy can improve migraine for some people and worsen it for others. Migraine with aura can affect contraceptive risk discussions, especially around stroke risk and additional risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, or obesity. Discuss options with a clinician who knows your migraine pattern and medical history.
Sources
- Mayo Clinic: Migraine symptoms and causes
- NHS: Migraine
- Mayo Clinic: Migraine diagnosis and treatment
- American Migraine Foundation: Migraine and stroke
- American Migraine Foundation: Oral contraceptives and migraine
- American Migraine Foundation: Migraine and pregnancy
Migraine Manager is a personal health journal, not a medical device. It does not diagnose or treat any condition. Always follow your clinician's advice for diagnosis, medication, and treatment decisions.
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