Hormone Replacement Therapy for Migraines

According to Menstrual Migraines (Susan Hutchinson, 2008) over 12 million women in the United States suffers from migraines thought to be caused by sudden drops in estrogen. This happens in a women's body just before her menstrual period and during menopause. In order to prevent migraine attacks, many women use hormone replacement therapy (HRT), where they consume synthetic estrogen pills to replace their lost estrogen. HRT cannot stop pain from an attack that has already begun.

Significance

• The goal of hormone replacement therapy is to keep the hormone estrogen at even levels throughout a woman's menstrual cycle or during menopause in order to prevent migraines.

For Young Women

• Pre-menopausal women are usually given low-dose combination oral contraceptives, commonly known as "the pill." This combines the synthetic hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Older Women

• Menopausal women (usually age 50 or more) are given medications derived from pregnant mare urine such as Premarin. Pregnant mare urine is rich in estrogen, but the treatment of the mares used in collecting the urine had lead to controversy.

Success Rate

• According to the National Migraine Association (MAGNUM), 45 percent of women with migraines put on hormone replacement therapy had fewer migraines, but 9 percent didn't feel any change.

Considerations

• According to MAGNUM, 46 percent of women who were placed on hormone replacement therapy found that their migraines worsened.