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Early Menopause & Headaches

Early menopause can be a troubling condition, both physically and emotionally. The type and severity of the physical symptoms of early menopause differ from patient to patient, but one common complaint is headaches. Treatment for headaches associated with early menopause involves both pain control and treating the underlying hormonal imbalance.

  1. Early Menopause

    • Although the terms are sometimes incorrectly used interchangeably, early menopause is different from premature menopause. If menopause begins before the age of 45, it is considered to be early menopause. Premature menopause is menopause that begins before age 40. According to women's health website Epigee, early menopause affects approximately 1 percent of women.

    Headache Pain

    • Headache is a common symptom experienced by women in early menopause. According to the Mayo Clinic, the change in your hormone levels can mean a change in the type of headaches you get. For instance, there is evidence that women who are prone to migraines get them less during menopause, but that the severity and frequency of tension headaches increases. However, every woman has a different experience. Some will get migraines for the first time during menopause, and some will not get headaches at all.

    Causes

    • The exact relationship is not clear, but according to the Mayo Clinic, there is a link between hormones and headaches. The drop in estrogen levels during menopause is thought to be the cause of headaches. Epigee reports that the drops in hormone levels in early menopause are frequently more extreme than menopause that begins during a more traditional time. This fact is especially true of early menopause that is caused by a hysterectomy or cancer treatment, as menopause can begin instantly with the removal of the ovaries. The sudden change can make all symptoms, including headache, more severe.

    Treatment -- Hormone Therapy

    • There is no treatment to reverse menopause, but hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) is sometimes used to lessen the severity of symptoms. HRT is controversial and not suited to everyone. Before 2002, HRT was prescribed liberally to menopausal women, but a study published that year by the Women's Health Initiative linking HRT with increased risk of breast cancer, blood clots, health disease and strokes caused doctors to be come much more cautious about prescribing it. In the case of HRT as a treatment for early menopause headaches, the Mayo Clinic estimates that it decreased headaches in about half of the women who take it and actually increases headaches for the other half. The decision to take HRT is a complicated one. Your doctor will work with you to weigh up the benefits and risks based on your medical history, risk factors and severity of menopause symptoms.

    Treatment -- Pain Management

    • Over-the-counter headache medications may be sufficient. If these do not help, talk to your doctor to discuss other options, including prescription-strength pain killers and migraine medications.

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