Key Points
Women suffer from migraines three times as often as men, with episodes that are more prolonged and intense..
Despite various treatment options, migraines remain the leading cause of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs)a measure of disease burden that accounts for time lost to ill healthfor women between the ages of 15 and 49..
Its chaotic at the two ends of a womans reproductive years, MacGregor says.. In adulthood, many women who suffer from migraines report experiencing attacks associated with their menstrual cycle..
Women who are susceptible to migraines tend to experience a faster rate of estradiol decline around the time of their period compared to women who dont..
New research is also mapping possible genetic components to migraines in women, and other sex-specific investigations are gaining momentum, helping to move migraine science beyond outdated myths about hysterical or sensitive women..
