A large European survey conducted by the European Migraine and Headache Alliance has highlighted significant gaps in diagnosis, treatment and clinical discussion of hormonally related migraine among women.
The Migraine in Women Survey, launched in 2025, is the largest European study to examine the impact of hormonal life stages on migraine. The survey targeted the general population and screened participants using the validated ID Migraine tool, identifying 5,410 women across Europe who screened positive for migraine.
Researchers sought to explore how migraine is affected by hormonal changes during menstruation, pregnancy and menopause, and how healthcare systems respond to these patterns. The findings indicate substantial unmet need in diagnosis and management.
Among respondents who screened positive for migraine, 42 per cent reported that they had never received a formal diagnosis. In addition, 35 per cent said their symptoms had not been properly discussed with a doctor. However, those who did consult a healthcare professional were approximately four times more likely to receive a formal diagnosis.
Many participants reported a perceived link between migraine attacks and the menstrual cycle. Two thirds indicated a potential pattern between attacks and their period, while one in three said headaches occurring around menstruation were more painful or longer lasting than other migraine episodes. Only 1 per cent reported that headaches disappeared after menopause.
The survey also highlighted a substantial symptom burden. Fewer than one in five respondents reported satisfaction with their current treatment, and only 16 per cent described their therapies as very effective. Pain severity was high, with 82 per cent rating headache intensity at six or higher on a ten-point scale. Eight per cent described their attacks as the worst possible pain.
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Tailored treatment for hormonally related migraine appears to be uncommon. Sixty-eight per cent of respondents said they had never been offered treatment specifically targeted at hormone-related attacks. However, women who were offered personalised management strategies reported higher levels of treatment satisfaction.
The findings underscore the need for improved recognition and management of hormonal migraine patterns within routine clinical care.
This news item has been summarised using AI and checked by humans before publication.
