When a woman is in the early stages of or fully enters into menopause, it's normal for her to experience a variety of symptoms. Headaches are among the symptoms some women report during this stage of life.
What is menopause?
Briefly defined, menopause is the time when a woman stops menstruating. As her ovaries will stop producing new eggs, a woman will experience hormonal changes that can lead to other symptoms as the body adjusts. Menopause also marks the time in a woman's life when she can no longer get pregnant.
Most women go through menopause between the ages of 40 and 58. The average age a woman has her last menstrual period can vary depending on a number of factors. In developed countries, the average age a woman stops menstruating is 51.4.
1. Perimenopause
This is the stage of menopause when a woman first begins to experience changes. Perimenopause can begin 8 to 10 years before a woman's last menstrual period. It will last for about 4 years, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Perimenopause usually begins when a woman is in her 40s. Menstruation is still ongoing but may become irregular. It's important to remember that women can still get pregnant during perimenopause.
During this time, the body's production of estrogen and progesterone begins to change, which can lead to experiencing menopausal symptoms, such as:
2. Menopause
This is the stage when a woman completely stops menstruating. The ovaries are no longer producing eggs, and the body is producing less estrogen and progesterone.
This is the stage most often associated with menopause. It's common to experience a number of symptoms, such as:
3. Postmenopause
This is the stage after a woman has stopped having her period for at least 1 year and can no longer get pregnant. The years after are called postmenopause.
Some symptoms, like hot flashes, should get better during this time. This is also when a woman's risk for health issues like brittle bones and heart disease increases because of the lower amounts of estrogen in her body.
Medication or lifestyle changes can help to reduce this risk, so it's important to speak to a doctor.
Menopause and headaches
Although headaches aren't usually the first symptom one might associate with menopause, women have often reported them during this time.
A 2014 study from the University of Cincinnati's Headache and Facial Program confirmed that women tend to experience more migraine headaches in the early years of menopause due to the fluctuating hormone levels.
Treatment and prevention
Acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen are commonly used nonprescription pain relievers that help with headaches.
Stress-relieving activities like yoga and meditation can also work. For some, a cool washcloth or an ice pack are effective in relieving the pain. Other people simply need to eat or properly rehydrate.
What are headaches?
A headache is defined as any pain in the head. The pain can be on one or both sides of the head, be in one place only, or even move from one place to another.
The types of pain people experience with headaches also vary, and sometimes because of what is causing them. Some headaches may be paired with sharp pains, some may have dull pains, and others may come with throbbing pains.
The National Headache Foundation list more than 15 different types of headaches. These range from allergy headaches and menstrual migraines to hangover headaches and sinus headaches.
What headaches are most common?
About 95 percent of headaches are caused by things people deal with every day, according to Harvard Health Publications. These include things like stress, tiredness, weather changes, and caffeine withdrawal.
The most common headaches are:
The symptoms, severity, risk factors, and complications can vary for each type of headache. Some can be prevented with lifestyle changes or medication, while others cannot be prevented as simply.
What is menopause?
Briefly defined, menopause is the time when a woman stops menstruating. As her ovaries will stop producing new eggs, a woman will experience hormonal changes that can lead to other symptoms as the body adjusts. Menopause also marks the time in a woman's life when she can no longer get pregnant.
Most women go through menopause between the ages of 40 and 58. The average age a woman has her last menstrual period can vary depending on a number of factors. In developed countries, the average age a woman stops menstruating is 51.4.
1. Perimenopause
This is the stage of menopause when a woman first begins to experience changes. Perimenopause can begin 8 to 10 years before a woman's last menstrual period. It will last for about 4 years, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Perimenopause usually begins when a woman is in her 40s. Menstruation is still ongoing but may become irregular. It's important to remember that women can still get pregnant during perimenopause.
During this time, the body's production of estrogen and progesterone begins to change, which can lead to experiencing menopausal symptoms, such as:
- Breast tenderness
- Worsening of premenstrual syndrome
- Heavier or lighter than usual periods
- Headaches
2. Menopause
This is the stage when a woman completely stops menstruating. The ovaries are no longer producing eggs, and the body is producing less estrogen and progesterone.
This is the stage most often associated with menopause. It's common to experience a number of symptoms, such as:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Cold flashes
- Vaginal dryness
- Pain or discomfort during sex
- Difficulty sleeping
- The need to urinate more frequently or urgently and urine leakage
- Mood swings, anxiety, or depression
- Joint aches and pains
- Headaches
- Skin flushing
- Weight gain or loss
3. Postmenopause
This is the stage after a woman has stopped having her period for at least 1 year and can no longer get pregnant. The years after are called postmenopause.
Some symptoms, like hot flashes, should get better during this time. This is also when a woman's risk for health issues like brittle bones and heart disease increases because of the lower amounts of estrogen in her body.
Medication or lifestyle changes can help to reduce this risk, so it's important to speak to a doctor.
Menopause and headaches
Although headaches aren't usually the first symptom one might associate with menopause, women have often reported them during this time.
A 2014 study from the University of Cincinnati's Headache and Facial Program confirmed that women tend to experience more migraine headaches in the early years of menopause due to the fluctuating hormone levels.
"Headaches do increase during this time period. It's what women have been telling us for years. Perimenopause and early menopause are very turbulent times for women with migraines."
Treatment and prevention
Acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen are commonly used nonprescription pain relievers that help with headaches.
Stress-relieving activities like yoga and meditation can also work. For some, a cool washcloth or an ice pack are effective in relieving the pain. Other people simply need to eat or properly rehydrate.
What are headaches?
A headache is defined as any pain in the head. The pain can be on one or both sides of the head, be in one place only, or even move from one place to another.
The types of pain people experience with headaches also vary, and sometimes because of what is causing them. Some headaches may be paired with sharp pains, some may have dull pains, and others may come with throbbing pains.
The National Headache Foundation list more than 15 different types of headaches. These range from allergy headaches and menstrual migraines to hangover headaches and sinus headaches.
What headaches are most common?
About 95 percent of headaches are caused by things people deal with every day, according to Harvard Health Publications. These include things like stress, tiredness, weather changes, and caffeine withdrawal.
The most common headaches are:
- Tension headaches
- Sinus headaches
- Migraines
The symptoms, severity, risk factors, and complications can vary for each type of headache. Some can be prevented with lifestyle changes or medication, while others cannot be prevented as simply.
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