Menopause & Headaches. Your Questions Answered by our Internal Specialist, Dr. Mera

Menopause can affect your headaches in several ways. The effects can be different for every woman, so you may not experience the same changes as someone else.

If your headaches are hormonal in nature, you may find relief after menopause. This may mean that you have less headaches or less severe headaches. This is because your hormone levels stay low, with little fluctuation, after your period stops for good.

On the other hand, some women have more frequent or worse headaches during perimenopause. It’s even possible for women who have never had problems with hormonal headaches to start having headaches during this time.

Women who experience migraines often report that their headaches are significantly worse during perimenopause. This is particularly true of women who earlier had headaches worsening around periods and ovulation.”

Migraines are a subtype of headache. They’re typically the most debilitating in nature. They’re characterized by throbbing pain on one side of the head, as well as sensitivity to light or sound.

Estrogen withdrawal is a common trigger. This is why headaches can be worse around menstruation, Green says. The same hormone — or lack thereof — that gives some women relief from migraines after menopause can cause more headaches in the months leading up to it.

That’s because hormone levels such as estrogen and progesterone decline during perimenopause. This decline isn’t always consistent, so women who experience headaches related to their monthly menstrual cycle may have more headaches during perimenopause. It’s also common to experience more severe headaches during this time.