Estrogen Levels Fall Rapidly In Women With A History Of Migraines

Estrogen has always been thought to be connected to migraines, yet no studies have revealed the exact connections. In a new study, scientists affirm that women who have a history of migraines undergo rapid drops in estrogen levels before menstruation, compared to other women who do not suffer from them. However, links between migraines and related hormonal patterns have not been found.

Moreover, women who have a history of migraines tend to undergo speedier drops in estrogen levels even if they do not undergo migraine attacks in their current menstrual cycle.

"These results suggest that a 'two-hit' process may link estrogen withdrawal to menstrual migraine," said Jelena Pavlovic of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and lead author of the study. "More rapid estrogen decline may make women vulnerable to common triggers for migraine attacks such as stress, lack of sleep, foods and wine."

The team studied 114 women who showed a history of migraines, along with 223 women who did not show them. Experts examined the history, daily headache diaries and hormone data of women who showed an average age of 57 years.

The women's hormone levels were analysed through daily urine samples in a month. Peak hormone levels, average daily levels and day-to-day rates of decline were also obtained during the five-day period after their hormone spikes.

In a couple of days after the peak estrogen levels in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, the women who had migraine history showed a decline in their estrogen levels by 40 percent, compared to 30 percent of women who did not have migraines.

"Future studies should focus on the relationship between headaches and daily hormone changes and explore the possible underpinnings of these results," Pavlovic said.

The findings were published in the June 1 issue of the journal Neurology.