Over a quarter of women are affected by migraines during their life. Although these headaches are common among both men and women, there are important differences. The prevalence of migraine is 2-3 times higher in women. The character of the headaches also differs. Women tend to report higher levels of pain, longer duration of headaches, and more associated symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting.
Visual symptoms are also less common in women.
There is a long recognized association between ovarian hormones and migraine. Over half of women with migraine report an association between their headaches and their menstrual cycle. The frequency and severity of migraine is increased commonly with the use of oral contraceptive pills and during the menopause. In addition, changes in the levels of ovarian hormones and prolactin during pregnancy and breast-feeding may modify the course of a migraine. A better understanding of these changes is leading to better treatment of migraine.