Management of headache in women.

Abstract

Chronic headache is more prevalent in women than in men. In addition, women often experience increases in headache activity in relation to different life stages. Changes in headache pattern coincide with changes in estradiol levels, with elevated levels of estradiol (e.g., during pregnancy) associated with reduced headache, and cycling of estradiol (e.g., during menses) associated with worsened headache. Headache treatment for women must be modified to address the changes in headache that accompany menses, pregnancy, and menopause.