Can PMS cause headaches?
Yes. Headaches are a common PMS symptom. The fall in estrogen in the days before your period can trigger tension-type headaches and, in people prone to them, menstrual migraines. They usually start in the 2 days before bleeding and can last into the first 3 days of your period. Planning ahead, sleep, hydration and timely pain relief help.
Why PMS causes headaches
Estrogen drops sharply just before your period. In some people that drop affects pain pathways and blood vessels in the brain, triggering headaches. Prostaglandins released around your period, poorer sleep in the luteal phase, caffeine changes, dehydration and stress can add to it. Headaches often travel with other symptoms on the PMS symptoms list; our PMS self-check helps you see the whole picture.
PMS headache or menstrual migraine?
| PMS (tension-type) headache | Menstrual migraine | |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Pressing or tight band around the head | Throbbing, often one side |
| Intensity | Mild to moderate | Moderate to severe, can stop you working |
| Other symptoms | Tired, stiff neck or shoulders | Nausea, sensitivity to light and sound |
| Timing | In the days before your period | From 2 days before to 3 days into your period |
| Aura | No | Usually no aura in pure menstrual migraine |
For the full guide to headaches across your period, see period headaches and headaches before period.
What helps
- Know when it's coming. If headaches start on day 26 most cycles, you can prepare. They fall at the end of the luteal phase.
- Take pain relief early. Ibuprofen or naproxen at the first sign often works better than waiting. Some doctors suggest starting a couple of days before your period. Ask a pharmacist what suits you.
- Keep habits steady. Regular meals, water, sleep and the same amount of caffeine each day.
- Magnesium may help some people with menstrual migraine. Check with a doctor or pharmacist first.
- Ask about prescriptions. Triptans, short-term preventive treatment around your period, or hormonal options can help menstrual migraine.
Many people notice that headache days are also their lowest or most irritable days. Logging both helps you plan and gives your doctor the pattern they need to diagnose menstrual migraine.
See a doctor if headaches are severe, stop you doing normal things, or need pain relief more than 2 to 3 days a week. Get urgent help for a sudden "worst ever" headache, headache with weakness, confusion, vision loss, stiff neck and fever, or after a head injury. If you get migraine with aura, tell your doctor before using estrogen-containing contraception.
Frequently asked questions
How long do PMS headaches last?
Usually a few hours to a couple of days. Menstrual migraines can last up to 3 days.
Can birth control help period headaches?
Sometimes. Continuous pills that avoid the hormone-free week can reduce menstrual migraine. They aren't safe for everyone, especially with migraine with aura.
Why do I get a headache after my period?
Low iron after a heavy period, or the end of a menstrual migraine, can cause headaches. If it's regular, mention it to a doctor.
Does caffeine help or hurt PMS headaches?
A little caffeine can help pain relief work, but big swings in caffeine intake can trigger headaches.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic: Menstrual migraines (hormone headaches)
- American Migraine Foundation: Menstrual migraine treatment and prevention
- NHS: Migraine
- Office on Women's Health: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
This page is for information only and isn鈥檛 medical advice. If something worries you, please talk to a doctor.
Keep reading
Period headaches and menstrual migraines: why they happenWhy you get a period headache or menstrual migraine, when in your cycle it strikes, what helps (including planning ahead) and when to see a doctor.Why do I get headaches before my period?Headaches before your period are usually triggered by the drop in estrogen in the days before bleeding. Why it happens, what helps, and when to see a doctor.
What are the most common PMS symptoms?PMS symptoms: the full list of emotional and physical signs, from irritability and crying to bloating and cravings, when they start, and when to get help.
PMS test: do my symptoms follow my cycle?Free PMS test: rate 11 common premenstrual symptoms and see whether yours look like mild PMS, typical PMS or something worth raising with a doctor.
Luteal phase: why feelings get louderWhat the luteal phase is, how long it lasts, why progesterone rises and falls, and the common symptoms: PMS, cravings, low energy and mood changes.