Relationship Between Headaches And Hormones

Headache is a very common symptom that we can experience for many reasons. This signal can make itself felt almost every pathology, from a cold to a problem with eyesight. But do you know the relationship between headaches and hormones ?

Although many people do not know about it, hormonal imbalances can cause many ailments, especially in women. This is because women’s hormones fluctuate during the menstrual cycle – which lasts about 28 days.

In the same way, they also change depending on the stage of a woman’s life. The most important hormones in women are estrogens and progesterone. In this article, we’ll explain the relationship between headaches and hormones and what to do to fix them.

What is the link between headaches and hormones?

Thanks to numerous scientific studies, it has been verified that some headaches are more common in women than in men. Women in particular are more prone to migraines and tension headaches.

Migraines are manifested by a sharp, piercing headache that is usually only felt on one side of the skull. There are other symptoms associated with this pain, such as sensitivity to light and nausea.

On the other hand, tension headaches cause more severe discomfort. It can be difficult to distinguish them from migraines, but there are some differences. For example, migraines tend to get worse with exercise, while tension headaches do not.

The fact that both types of pain are more common in women indicates that there is a hormone component causing them. Additionally, this hypothesis is reinforced by the fact that most women experience them at the same time in their menstrual cycle.

Interestingly, many of these pains occur just before the onset of menstruation. It is related to the decrease in estrogen levels characteristic for the end of the menstrual cycle .

How is hormone-related pain manifested?

While it’s true that most women experience these headaches just before their period, there are also many differences. In some cases, the headache starts several days earlier. In others, it is dominant throughout the period.

Moreover, it also depends on the age of the woman. As you approach the menopause, the frequency of these pains increases. This is because estrogen levels change significantly at this stage.

The intensity of this symptom can be very disabling. Keep in mind that hormonal changes also tend to cause other symptoms. For example, many women suffer from abdominal pain or mood changes. For this reason, everything possible should be done to reduce the discomfort of those who experience it.

How to treat pain related to hormones?

Hormone-related headaches can be treated. In fact, there are many treatments that have been shown to be effective. However, they must be tailored and adapted to each woman and her preferences. Some of these methods are listed below:

• Putting ice on the painful area and doing relaxation exercises.
• Taking painkillers. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is most recommended. For example, ibuprofen. They can be taken as a preventive measure before the pain starts or after the symptom has established itself.
• Use of hormonal contraceptives.

Hormonal contraceptives help many women to reduce fluctuations in hormone levels. This improves or reduces the frequency of most headaches. The most commonly used contraceptives are vaginal tablets, patches or rings.

However, the effect of each of these measures depends on the woman. There are many patients who do not notice any relief after taking contraceptives. Other recommended measures relate to habits and lifestyle. It is recommended to avoid stress, caffeine and tobacco. It looks like these factors can make the pain worse.

The relationship between headaches and hormones – conclusions

Headaches are clearly related to hormones, especially in women. Related to this symptom is the fact that estrogen levels fluctuate during the menstrual cycle.

However, each woman experiences them differently. In addition, they do not all respond to the same type of treatment in the same way. Therefore, it is very important to see a doctor and be aware that the same medicine does not work the same way in all cases.