Women experience migraine headaches more often than men. This difference may relate to fluctuations in sex steroids like estrogen and progesterone. A 2002 investigation published in the medical journal "Headache" showed that during times of menstrual bleeding, when estrogen and progesterone levels remain low, migraines occur more often. Thus, replacement therapy using bioidentical hormones may be helpful. These drugs, similar to the body's natural hormones, can effectively and safely stop the appearance of migraine headaches.
Oral Estrogen
Naturally, menopausal women typically experience headaches due to the drop in estrogen associated with the age-related change in their reproductive status. Replacing this lost estrogen with bioidentical hormones can help remedy such a problem. Another 2002 experiment described in "Headache" looked at the impact of estradiol hemihydrate in postmenopausal women who frequently experienced migraines. Patients can use this form of estrogen orally, which is unusual for a bioidentical drug. One month of natural estradiol intake produced the most positive results of the three treatments evaluated in this study. Women taking natural estrogen suffered less migraine attacks and took fewer analgesic drugs than women using synthetic estrogen. Estradiol hemihydrate also had a favorable side effect profile with few adverse events reported.
Transdermal Estrogen
Medically menopausal women often experience migraines as well. A 2003 clinical trial presented in "Headache" tested women with migraines taking a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist to induce pharmacological menopause. These patients also received transdermal estradiol for a two-month period. This type of estrogen is considered bioidentical because the skin can readily absorb the female hormone without the addition of synthetic fillers. Results of the study indicated that, relative to placebo, estrogen significantly reduced ratings of daily headache pain. Women in each group reported a comparable number of side effects.
Percutaneous Estrogen
Premenopausal women also experience headaches related to their sex steroid levels. Taking estrogen supplements when female hormones become low may reduce migraine frequency and headache severity. A 2006 report offered in the periodical "Neurology" assessed the effects of percutaneous estradiol on menses-related migraines in women of reproductive age. This kind of bioidentical estrogen is applied daily as a gel to the thigh. Women received either estrogen or placebo for a few days in between ovulation and menses. The data revealed that the bioidentical hormone reduced migraine frequency 22 percent relative to the inert treatment. Estrogen application also reduced headache severity as women reported less nausea. Adverse reactions were equally distributed between the two conditions.
Micronized Progesterone
Women of reproductive age experiencing menstrual migraines can benefit from the intake of other natural hormones as well. The authors of a 2003 paper presented in the journal "Maturitas" state that progesterone, when given on a cyclic basis, can reduce the occurrence of migraine headaches triggered by premenstrual changes. Most progesteronic drugs are not bioidentical, but doctors can prescribe micronized progesterone, a natural form of the female hormone. According to a 2000 review in the "American Family Physician," women may receive this type of bioidentical hormone treatment subcutaneously, vaginally, or orally. Micronized progesterone therapy remains effective and safe when properly used.
References
- "Headache"; Prevalence of Menstrually Related Migraine and Nonmigraine Primary Headache in Female Students of Belgrade University; E. Dzoljic et al.; March 2002
- "Headache"; Hormone Supplementation Differently Affects Migraine in Postmenopausal Women; F. Facchinetti et al.; October 2002
- "Headache"; Medical Oophorectomy with and without Estrogen Add-Back Therapy in the Prevention of Migraine Headache; V. Martin et al.; April 2003
- "Neurology"; Prevention of Menstrual Attacks of Migraine: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study; E. A. MacGregor et al.; Dec. 26, 2002
- "Maturitas"; Differential Effects of Progestins on the Brain; C. J. Gruber et al.; Dec. 10, 2003
