Hormonal headaches are a very painful and seriously debilitating ailment that affects only women. Fluctuations in estrogens and progesterone can have significant effects on the brain, often triggering severe headaches. Hormonal headaches are a part of the overall premenstrual cycle, and can start as early as eleven days before the menstrual cycle. Symptoms of hormonal headaches include severe migraine like pain, usually accompanied by a sensitivity to light and loud noises. The pain is usually described as a throbbing sensation.

A large percentage of women will eventually experience a hormonal headache. The occurrence of hormonal headaches can be hard to predict widely believed to play a role in their frequency. In some women, oral contraceptives can actually increase the occurrence of hormonal headaches while in others it ends up reducing the frequency of the headaches. Accurately predicting the {outcome of oral contraceptive use is difficult. Outside of contraceptives, the exact causes of a hormonal headache are unknown. Preventing hormonal headaches can be difficult, or at least hard to do.

Fortunately, treatment for the effects of hormonal headaches can be highly effective. Over the counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can do a good job of handling the symptoms of hormonal headache. Treatment with these over the counter drugs around five to seven days prior to a menstrual period can mitigate their effects. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen are all possible treatment options for hormonal headaches These NSAID medications can possibly also play a role in reducing other .

Migraine medications, such as triptans, are another tool in the arsenal against hormonal headache pain. Although not a direct treatment for the cause of the headaches, triptans can significantly reduce the associated pain. Triptans and NSAID medication should be used wisely when attempting to reduce hormonal headaches, because they can cause reactions if overused. Overuse of both triptans and NSAID medication can cause "rebound" headaches in which the symptoms present even stronger.

In addition to the premenstrual cycle, hormonal headaches also emerge during high hormone level periods. The early periods of childbirth can cause widespread changes in hormone levels, and this can easily trigger severe hormonal headaches. The days after childbirth are also particularly susceptible to the occurrence of headaches. Menopause can also frequently be associated with hormonal headaches.