The Migraine Hormone Connection

Many women suffer from recurrent migraines that seem to appear only once a month, usually during the last few days of their menstrual cycle. As time goes on, these disturbances often expand to the last week of their cycle, and for the unlucky few, the last half before menstruation. The migraines are often accompanied by other physical disturbances such as weight gain, abdominal bloat, fluid retention, severe PMS, and hot flashes. Bouts of insomnia also seem to be triggered in some women.

Once women begin to realize the connection to their menstrual cycle and the migraines, they will begin their trek from doctor to doctor looking for a cure. Most start off with their primary care physician or ob/gyn, only to be disappointed when doctors explain away the apparent connection and label the migraines and accompanying symptoms coincidental. Women walk away with prescription pain killers in hand, left to deal with the devastation that migraine pain, coupled with a lack of sleep, brings to their lives.

Some light can finally be shed on the subject now that new medical breakthroughs reveal the leading cause of recurrent migraines in women is estrogen dominance. This occurs when the amount of estrogen becomes elevated when compared with the amount of progesterone in the body.

This increase in the ratio of estrogen to progesterone triggers migraines in three different ways. First, excess estrogen encourages the body to retain fluid. This retention over expands the brains blood vessels, causing pain. Second, excess estrogen can cause a depletion of magnesium within the body. Magnesium prevents arterial spasms, so when this mineral runs low, the blood vessels in the brain become susceptible to spasms that trigger migraines. A vicious cycle can be created due to the lack of magnesium, which is an essential mineral for keeping estrogen in check, and breaking down the excess within the body. Thirdly, excess estrogen can cause levels of the stress hormone cortisol to spike, especially at night. Nightly spikes can rob women of the deep restorative sleep necessary for the body to recharge and heal. This sleep is essential if one is to have a chance to ward off future migraine episodes.

Few doctors treat the hormonal issues now associated with recurrent migraines. Their only concern is the treatment of symptoms instead of the discovery of underlying causes. This needs to become a bigger issue in regards to women's health today as it is estimated that as many as 72 percent of women could be effected by the dominance of estrogen over progesterone.

What causes this dominance to run rampant in women's lives today? There are numerous causes, some of which are simply age related. As a woman ages, a natural decline of progesterone occurs when a woman enters perimenopause and then menopause. The gradual decrease of ovulation induces the natural decrease in the production of progesterone. Many women unknowingly increase their levels of estrogen with birth control pills, patches, and hormone replacement whereby the ratio of estrogen to progesterone begins to become out of sync. Progesterone keeps the negative effects of excess estrogen at bay. Without it, women are at the mercy of fluid retention, PMS, and hot flashes. Lastly, we are exposed daily to estrogenic compounds in our food and environment and over time these can accumulate within the body.

So what is a woman to do if she thinks estrogen might be the culprit? Migraine suffers should have their blood work taken to test for hormonal imbalances. If an imbalance in progesterone is found, then progesterone replacement can be prescribed to achieve hormonal stability. Many health and whole food stores sell progesterone cream and sublingual drops which can help. One should also consider adding a magnesium supplement at 400 to 800 mgs per day depending on age.

No woman should suffer needlessly from recurrent migraines when so much new information is out about the hormonal connection. Achieving and maintaining hormonal balance has the potential to improve the quality of life for many migraine sufferers.