Women and Migraine: the Role of Hormones

Migraine is a debilitating disease, that is encountered in countless medical offices every day and since it is highly prevalent in women, it is imperative to have a clear understanding of how to manage migraine. There is a growing body of evidence regarding the patterns we see in women throughout their life cycle and how we approach migraine diagnosis and treatment at those times. New guidelines regarding safety of medication during pregnancy and lactation are being utilized to help guide management decisions in female migraineurs. There is also new data surrounding the risk of stroke in individuals who suffer from migraine with aura. This article seeks to provide an overview of a woman's migraine throughout her lifetime, the impact of hormones and an approach to management.