---
title: Does migraine risk change during menopause in women with PMS?
description: Yes. In women with PMS, migraine is highest in late perimenopause at 31% and lowest after menopause at 7%. Hormone levels also affect migraine risk.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/migraine-prevalence-during-menopausal-transition-2003/
---

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- Does migraine risk change during menopause in women with PMS?

Survey study, 2003

# Does migraine risk change during menopause in women with PMS?

Yes. In women with PMS, migraine is highest in late perimenopause at 31% and lowest after menopause at 7%. Hormone levels also affect migraine risk.

 Moderate study design

1436 Chinese women aged 40-54 in Taiwan

## What they did

Survey of 1436 Chinese women aged 40 to 54 in Taiwan. Neurologists diagnosed migraine using standard criteria. Researchers measured hormone levels and asked about PMS history.

## What they found

Overall migraine occurred in 16.5% of women. In women with PMS, the late perimenopausal group had 31% migraine, while the postmenopausal group had 7%. Women who had hysterectomies reported 27% overall migraine, and 44% among those with PMS. Low estrogen levels were linked to lower migraine rates.

## What it means for you

If you have PMS, your migraine risk may peak just before menopause and then decrease. The study included only Chinese women in one location and one time period, so results may not apply to other populations.

1436

women in study

31%

migraine in women with PMS in late perimenopause

7%

migraine in women with PMS after menopause

## About the study

Original title Migraine prevalence during menopausal transition Authors Wang SJ, Fuh JL, Lu SR et al. Journal Headache Year 2003 Study design Survey study Participants 1,436 What was tested None (observation only) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1046/j.1526-4610.2003.03092.x](https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1526-4610.2003.03092.x)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)[Surgical menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-surgery/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)[Migraine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-migraine/)

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