Migraine, hormones and the menopausal transition

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Endocrinology
• Women's Health

Background:

• Migraine is a prevalent, disabling neurological disorder.
• Hormonal fluctuations, especially during the perimenopausal period, are identified as key migraine triggers.
• Migraine's course can be affected by hormonal changes during reproductive life and hormonal contraception.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the role of hormonal fluctuations in migraine.
• To investigate hormone therapy as a potential migraine prevention strategy during menopause.
• To compare the efficacy of different hormone therapy regimens for migraine prevention.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing evidence on hormones and migraine.
• Analysis of migraine triggers, including hormonal changes.
• Evaluation of hormone therapy's impact on menopausal migraine.

Main Results:

• Hormonal fluctuations are strongly implicated as migraine triggers.
• Migraine poses a potential stroke risk, necessitating consideration in menopause hormone therapy.
• Transdermal estradiol may offer a more favorable migraine profile than oral estrogens due to stable levels.

Conclusions:

• Hormone therapy is a potential strategy for preventing menopausal transition migraines.
• Transdermal estradiol appears more beneficial for migraine management than oral estrogens.
• Further research is needed on various hormone therapy regimens for migraine prevention.