Insider: Here’s how to treat menstrual migraine
UC headache expert discusses migraine triggers in women
Menstrual migraine isn’t your average headache or migraine. In a 2015 study, women with menstrual migraines reported prolonged migraines and more severe symptoms of nausea than women with non-menstrual migraines.
Insider spoke with Vincent Martin, MD, co-director of the UC Headache and Facial Pain Center and professor of internal medicine, about migraines and menstruation in women. Martin, also a UC Health physician, said that following menopause, “female hormones are falling and this can either drastically improve or sometimes worsen migraine attacks.”
"Birth control pills can worsen headaches in some girls or women because estrogen levels plummet during the placebo week of the birth control pills, which can trigger migraine attacks. One strategy to manage this is to use extended duration birth control pills that only give a placebo week every 3 months instead of monthly," Martin tells Insider.
Specific triggers, notably stress, can also bring on migraines, according to Martin.
Related Stories
UC named a best employer in Ohio by Forbes
August 14, 2026
Forbes ranks the University of Cincinnati No. 24 on its 2026 America’s Best Employers By State list for Ohio, recognizing UC’s strong workplace culture and employee experience.
Mistakes to avoid when shopping for a product dupe
August 13, 2026
The University of Cincinnati’s Kelly Dobos was featured in an AARP article discussing ways to determine if “dupe” cosmetic products really are comparable to the more expensive name brand.
Ancient warming event hints at potential climate tipping point
August 12, 2026
Researchers say a spike in temperatures during an ice age 304 million years ago could inform what climate scientists are learning about rapidly changing conditions today.