Migraine Questions
Common migraine questions and answers
Latest
Is there a connection between endometriosis and migraine?
Susan Hutchinson, MD
One study showed that about one-third of women with endometriosis — a condition that causes pelvic pain and abnormal bleeding — also experience migraine.
What happens when migraine attacks don’t go away during menopause?
Susan Hutchinson, MD
If there is not a dramatic improvement in migraine attacks when a woman reaches menopause, Dr. Susan Hutchison says women can be treated with natural or bioidentical estrogen and progesterone. For women who cannot take hormones, there are additional options.
What is perimenopause and how does it affect migraine?
Susan Hutchinson, MD
Dr. Susan Hutchinson defines perimenopause and how it affects women with migraine disorder.
How can migraine during perimenopause be treated?
Susan Hutchinson, MD
Hormone treatment, particularly low-dose estrogen, can be used to treat migraine and help a woman ease into perimenopause. Another option is the use of antidepressants.
What related health issues arise during perimenopause, and how can they be treated?
Susan Hutchinson, MD
In addition to increased migraine, perimenopause can lead to other health issues in women that need to be treated simultaneously.
At what age does perimenopause typically start and how long does it last?
Susan Hutchinson, MD
Dr. Susan Hutchinson discusses the typical age of onset of perimenopause, and the markers that define it in blood tests.
If a woman has a difficult time during perimenopause, does that mean she will also have a difficult time during menopause?
Susan Hutchinson, MD
Having a difficult time through perimenopause does not necessarily mean menopause will be equally difficult. In two-thirds of women, migraine attacks often decrease or disappear completely during menopause.
What happens to hormone levels after giving birth and during breastfeeding, and how does that affect migraine?
Susan Hutchinson, MD
During postpartum, hormone levels plummet, which can cause migraine attacks to flare up, although breastfeeding can delay them.
What happens to a woman with migraine disorder during pregnancy?
Susan Hutchinson, MD
Most women’s migraine attacks go away or get better during pregnancy; however, some women begin to experience them for the first time during pregnancy. Fortunately, there are safe treatments available.
Which doctors should a pregnant woman with migraine work with?
Susan Hutchinson, MD
A woman with migraine disease who becomes pregnant should work in collaboration with both her OB-GYN and her family physician or headache doctor.
Which lifestyle choices and supplements for migraine are safe during pregnancy?
Susan Hutchinson, MD
Both magnesium and vitamin B2 for migraine prevention are safe during pregnancy, and exercise, hydration and quality sleep are highly recommended.
Does depression go along with migraine?
Allan Purdy, MD
Many of those living with migraine also experience depression. When mood concerns or changes are present, discussing the possibility of this comorbidity with your provider is critically important. Migraine cannot be most effectively treated without treating the depression, too.
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