Migraine and Women. Why?
It’s a fact. More women have migraine than men. And many women have menstrual migraine, or menstrually related migraine, which is clearly influenced by hormonal cycles.
 Why me?? |
But don’t jump to conclusions too quickly. Is migraine just a matter of hormones out of control? Are hormones the reason why there are more female migraineurs than men?
Last week we were talking about the new genetic links that have been found related to migraine. One side note on the research was that one of the genetic variations was more closely related to women than men.
This isn’t the first time that research has suggested that migraine in women may not be all about hormones. Back in 2007 you heard about research into the cortical spreading depression (a part of the migraine chain reaction) that hinted that migraine in women may not just be a result of hormones.
At this point a lot of the research is just that – hints. But in a way, it does make sense. Some women have migraine attacks closely related to their cycle – others don’t. Some women have more/less/the same number of migraine attacks during menopause/after menopause or before/during/after pregnancy. Why?
No, it’s not just hormones. Something else is going on. Maybe something genetic?
7 July 2011 @ 12:28 pm
I just shake my head now… I’ve been saying that my migraines are mostly induced by my hormone fluxes… menstruating and ovulating… I had so many Drs. “pooh-pooh” that and tell me it was all in my “head”. duh.. of course the migraine is in my head… I feel slightly vindicated reading this now, and very angry still for Drs. that wouldn’t listen because they were men that “knew better” than a stupid teenager. grrr