Can you get menopause headaches?

Headaches are one of the most common conditions, and most people will experience a headache at some point in their lives. Women who experience headaches in their 40s and 50s may wonder if they’re connected to perimenopause, the period of time that leads up to menopause, where women no longer ovulate and have periods.

Headaches can be a symptom of menopause in some cases. Hot flashes, night sweats and irritability may be more well-known symptoms, but headaches in perimenopause are also common. The female sex hormone estrogen and brain chemicals that contribute to headaches are closely linked. As a result, headaches often coincide with the menstrual cycle. When estrogen levels decrease right before your period, you may experience a headache.

During perimenopause, estrogen levels fluctuate. When these levels change, headaches may occur. Also, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can sometimes cause headaches as a side effect.

If you experienced headaches before menopause, your symptoms may worsen or they may improve during perimenopause.

Scientists and medical experts have identified more than 150 types of headaches based on their clinical features. Of them, two are especially common during perimenopause: tension headaches and migraines.

Often perceived as an aching or tight band feeling on both sides of the head, tension headaches can cause mild to moderate levels of pain. Although the exact causes aren’t understood, they seem to be connected to stress and are often associated with muscle tightness in the neck and back of the head. 

Tension headaches in perimenopause may be due to negative thoughts and feelings about going through this life stage or due to stress caused by other symptoms of menopause. They may also be caused by other factors. Sleep problems, like insomnia, may also contribute to tension headaches. Many people have problems getting a good night’s sleep during perimenopause.

Pounding or throbbing headaches that are moderate to severe may be migraine headaches. Sensitivity to light, nausea and/or vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision, loss of appetite and other symptoms may accompany migraines. Women who previously experienced migraines may have more frequent or severe headaches during menopause. On the other hand, some migraine sufferers report that their headache frequency or severity decreased in the months and years before menopause.

Research has established a potential link between migraine headaches and hot flashes. One study found that women who had a history of migraines were more likely to have severe hot flashes than those who didn’t. The findings indicate that migraine headaches and hot flashes may have similar causes. Specifically, researchers hypothesize that both may be triggered by changes in blood vessels that occur during perimenopause.

Typically, medical providers treat headaches in perimenopause the same way they do at other times in life. For the milder headache, over-the-counter pain medications are often the first line of treatment. If they fail to alleviate symptoms, doctors may prescribe other medications. Stress management and exercise may also be recommended.

When medical providers believe headaches in perimenopause may be due to HRT, they will weigh the benefits of treatment against how the side effect impacts their patients’ daily lives. In some cases, switching from an oral medication to a low-dose estrogen patch may reduce headaches.

If frequent headaches in perimenopause get in the way of your daily activities or make it hard for you to rest at night, talk to your healthcare provider. They can prescribe treatments and recommend lifestyle changes that may reduce discomfort and lower the likelihood of headaches occurring in the future.

Published March 2023.