What Causes Headaches and Migraines During Periods?

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Period headaches are primarily caused by the sharp, sudden drop in the female hormone estrogen right before menstruation begins. Other contributing factors could be excess production of prostaglandins or low iron (anemia).

Headaches and migraines are extremely common before and during a period. Let’s understand the causes:

1. Estrogen Crash

  • Hormone Fluctuation: Just before your period, the level of female hormone estrogen drops sharply.
  • Blood Vessel Confusion: Estrogen acts like a gentle helper that keeps the blood vessels in your brain calm. When it suddenly leaves, the blood vessels become confused—they widen and tighten rapidly.
  • The Pain Trigger: This rapid, unstable movement of the blood vessels is called vascular instability, and it is what triggers the pain of a headache or a more severe menstrual migraine. This is why the pain usually hits right before or at the start of bleeding.

2. Prostaglandins Worsen the Head Pain

The same pain chemicals (prostaglandins) that cause severe uterine cramps can also make your head pain much worse.

  • Extra Inflammation: These chemicals promote inflammation (swelling and irritation) throughout your body.
  • The Effect: This general inflammation, combined with the unstable blood vessels from the estrogen drop, significantly increases the intensity of the headache. The worse the cramps are, the worse the headache tends to be.

If you experience both period pain (primary dysmenorrhea) and menstrual migraine, it certainly means your body is producing prostaglandins in excess.

3. Low Iron

Low iron (Anemia) from heavy bleeding also contributes by reducing oxygen flow to the brain, intensifying the head pain.

For a full understanding of the difference between a simple period headache and a severe Menstrual Migraine, including specific treatment options, read our detailed guide – Understanding Menstrual Migraine and Period Headaches

An educational infographic titled “What Causes Headaches and Migraines During Periods?” The graphic explains that menstrual headaches and period migraines occur because of a sharp drop in the hormone estrogen just before and during menstruation. It also lists factors that worsen hormonal headaches, including excess production of prostaglandins—pain-causing chemicals—and low iron levels from heavy bleeding. The infographic advises that in such cases, a doctor-prescribed NSAID (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug) should be taken early to block the excess production of prostaglandins. The design likely includes simple icons or illustrations representing hormone imbalance, menstrual pain relief, iron deficiency, and period pain medication, with a clean and readable layout. The graphic ends with the campaign message "STOP The Period Pain." Which is a knowledge initiative campaign by Blue Cross Laboratories the makers of meftal spas.

Your Journey to #StopThePeriodPain Starts Here

Every month, millions of Indian girls & women suffer in silence, told that their severe period pain (dysmenorrhea) is “normal.” Our mission is to break that silence. #StopThePeriodPain campaign is here to empower you with 3 simple truths:

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Period Pain Calculator Section

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For real, how bad is your pain? Our interactive tool uses a 1-10 pain scale and a few quick questions to help you get the full picture. In just a few clicks, you’ll know if your pain is a chill or a major red flag.

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References:

  1. Boroondara Osteopathy – Why do I feel low back pain during my period?