1. Pain-Relieving and Preventative Medications
A woman's hormones can play a significant role in triggering headaches. Specifically, levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones may affect headache-related chemicals in the brain. Consequently, women often experience "hormonal headaches" before or during menstruation and at other times of hormonal fluctuation.
Fortunately, hormonal headaches can be treated with pain relievers. For most women, over-the-counter analgesics like ibuprofen offer sufficient pain relief. If you suffer from moderate to severe headaches, however, prescription pain relievers may be necessary. If you have regular headaches that coincide with the beginning of your period, taking pain relievers prophylactically 2 to 3 days before your period and continuing throughout may prevent the headache. Additionally, your doctor can prescribe other preventative medications, such as cardiovascular medications or antidepressants. Depending on your symptoms, these medications can be taken just before and during your period, or they can be taken daily. rn
2. Understand the Birth Control Connection
Hormonal birth control methods, such as birth control pills, the patch and Depo-Provera injections, can affect your headache patterns. Beginning one of these methods can trigger headaches in some women. However, others have less severe or less frequent headaches while using hormonal birth control. If you have hormonal headaches around menstruation, using birth control that minimizes the length or frequency of your period can be helpful. Choosing progestin only pills that don't affect your estrogen levels may also help.
3. Different Approaches During Pregnancy and Menopause
During pregnancy, estrogen levels increase significantly and stay high until delivery. Consequently, if you have a history of hormonal headaches, being pregnant can make them either better or worse. Some women experience headaches for the first time when pregnant. Treatment options during pregnancy are limited because of the risks to your baby. Talk to your doctor about what medications are safe to take. During pregnancy, alternative treatments like massage, aromatherapy and acupuncture may be your best bet.
During menopause, women experience dramatic shifts in estrogen levels that can improve or exacerbate headaches. Hormone replacement therapy helps some women, but it can worsen headaches. During menopause, estrogen patches are recommended for women who get headaches, because they release estrogen steadily in low doses. Fewer fluctuations in estrogen levels can be beneficial for headache sufferers.
