Do you get migraines? Perimenopause?

Have you noticed your migraines increase as you’ve entered perimenopause?

What Are Menstrual Migraines?

About 20-25 percent of women with migraines experience migraines in the days before their period, called menstrual migraines. This type of migraine is typically more intense and painful than other headaches or migraines experienced at other times in the cycle.

Why? The decline in estrogen levels, or estrogen withdrawal, at the end of the cycle affects inflammation and neurotransmitters that trigger migraines.

Migraines & Perimenopause

Perimenopause is a time of high & fluctuating estrogen that is less opposed from protective progesterone, leading to menstrual migraines that are more severe and occur more often.

Some women will experience migraines for the first time during the perimenopausal years.

It’s these hormone fluctuations that explain why more women get migraines than men and why menstrual migraines, specifically, are more common between the ages of 40 and 55. The good news, however, is that many women experience a decline or cessation in migraines in menopause, when they are no longer cycling and experiencing estrogen fluctuations and withdrawal. It’s important to note that most women with migraines have many triggers. For menopausal women who continue to experience migraines, changes in estrogen levels may not be the main trigger anymore, although it is worth exploring poor estrogen detoxification as a contributor. Other migraine triggers may play a bigger role.

Migraine Solutions

If you are a migraine sufferer, getting through perimenopause may be particularly challenging. Here are some tips that may help!

• 
  Use Phytoestrogens. Natural estrogen compounds made by plants help to stabilize estrogen levels. Studies show that phytoestrogen treatment reduces menstrual migraines.One of the most potent and effective phytoestrogen-containing plants is the Thai herb of rejuvenation, Pueraria mirifica.
• Support progesterone. Progesterone helps to calm the brain and balance the excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate, associated with migraines. Vitamins B and C, and eating more foods with zinc can help.
• Avoid migraine triggers. Possible triggers include fermented or aged foods, alcohol, food sensitivities, stress, chemicals, bright lights and more. Work to identify your triggers and avoid them, especially during the premenstrual time and in menopause.
  
• Build up nutrition. Certain nutrients including vitamin B2, magnesium, coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E may help prevent migraines.

When it comes to migraines, prevention is the best medicine.

Understanding your body and supporting hormone balance, naturally, may lead to more headache-free days.