In decades past, it was commonly believed that women suffered from migraines as their reaction to stress and too much work/activity. It was believed to be a sort of “weakness” that women had. Of course, science and medicine disproved this belief—along with many other misguided medical beliefs concerning women—as research came forward proving that migraines were in fact a physical, biological occurrence, one that affects men, women, and children. Migraines, which are usually hereditary, can have many different triggers. Things like bright lights, loud sounds, changes in the weather, stress, dehydration, changes to daily routines, and certain foods or smells can all be a trigger for migraines.

Another now-established trigger is rapid fluctuations in the hormone estrogen. When women are about to menstruate, their estrogen level drops sharply. A recent study published online in June 2016 by the American Academy of Neurology examined the link between estrogen fluctuations and migraine headaches…and what that might mean for migraine sufferers everywhere.