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For the acute treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura and the preventive treatment of episodic migraine in adults.
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Women & Migraine
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Understanding how migraine affects women

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Women are 3 times more likely to suffer from migraine than men—and hormonal changes could be a factor.
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explore other migraine triggers
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hormones
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How do hormones affect migraine?

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Fluctuations in hormones—specifically estrogen—throughout different stages in life can bring about new migraine symptoms and changes in symptom severity.
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During menstruation

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Two days before your period and in the first 3 days after it starts, you may experience migraine attacks, which are likely triggered by hormonal changes related to menstruation.

This is due to changing estrogen and progesterone levels, which can result in longer and more intense attacks.

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During pregnancy

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Many people have reported that their migraine symptoms improved during pregnancy, most notably during the last 6 months.

After giving birth, hormone levels either increase or decrease, which can intensify migraine attacks.

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To better understand the connection between your hormonal changes and migraine attacks, consider keeping a journal to document your symptoms and their timing. This information can be invaluable when discussing potential solutions with your doctor.
hormone-change
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Changes in hormone levels and migraine

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Changes in hormone levels can directly affect migraine severity. Take a look at how different hormonal stages can affect migraine symptoms.

Perimenopause

Perimenopause is the stage right before your body begins menopause

As your hormones fluctuate and estrogen levels drop, your periods become more irregular. This can result in longer and more intense migraine attacks.

Menopause

Menopause is the stage right after perimenopause

Your periods will stop permanently after your estrogen levels go through a sudden decline at the end of perimenopause. Once you enter menopause, hormone levels become stable and remain low. Many people find that their migraine attacks become less frequent or go away completely once their periods stop.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which usually contains estrogen and progestin, can be used to treat symptoms brought on by menopause

HRT for treating menopause raises estrogen levels, which may cause migraine symptoms to get worse. On the other hand, research shows that HRT can reduce the frequency of attacks in people with migraine who are triggered by fluctuations in hormone levels.

People on HRT for gender-affirming therapy may experience a change in the frequency or severity of their migraine attacks.

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Nearly 2 out of 3 women experience attacks while on their period

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If you know the pain of migraine while being on your period, you’re not alone. Get ahead of migraine attacks triggered by menstruation with a few helpful tips.
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how to cope
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You may be able to get Nurtec ODT for as little as $0*

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*Eligible commercially insured patients can, for one time only, access Nurtec ODT at no cost while benefits are being verified for one prescription fill, with a maximum of 16 tablets total. Insurance coverage must be approved by the payor for patients to continue receiving Nurtec ODT with no out-of-pocket cost. No membership fees. Only available for commercially insured patients. This is not health insurance. Maximum annual benefit of $7,000 applies. The full terms and conditions can be accessed at nurtec.com/terms-and-conditions.
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