Estrogen Headaches

QUESTION: You have such a wealth of information and I was wondering... How do I deal with these rotten headaches I keep getting especially after my period, and then leading up to it?

ANSWER: Always glad to help! One thing I do for easy estrogen increase is eat oatmeal and drink grapefruit juice. EPO [evening primrose oil] will probably help too, I'll include a list of things that may help:

Estrogen & Grapefruit
http://youcangetpregnant.blogspot.com/2006/12/estrogen-grapefruit.html

Menstrual migraine is associated with low levels of vitamin D and calcium.
http://youcangetpregnant.blogspot.com/2006/12/miracle-of-vitamin-d.html

Is Too Low of Estrogen a Problem?
http://youcangetpregnant.blogspot.com/2006/11/is-too-low-of-estrogen-problem.html

More on Low Estrogen: Foods & Herbs
http://youcangetpregnant.blogspot.com/2006/11/more-on-low-estrogen-foods-herbs.html

Quote:
• Evening Primrose Oil:
1,000 IU per day should be taken from Cycle Day 1 to Ovulation. Do not take EPO after ovulation because EPO causes uterine contractions, which may interfere with implantation. A natural estrogen promoter. EPO is a good source of Essential Fatty Acids "EFA". All living cells need fatty acids for rebuilding and producing new cells. The body uses EFAs to produce substances which send messages that trigger hormone production necessary for a successful cycle!
Source: http://youcangetpregnant.blogspot.com/2007/03/herbs-for-cervical-mucus.html

• Licorice Root:
Licorice Root has estrogen and progesterone-like effects, cleanses the colon, decreases muscular spasms and increases fluidity of mucus. Licorice should only be taken for 7 days at one time unless it is Deglycyrrhizinated as it can raise blood pressure. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice may stimulate natural defense mechanisms that prevent the occurrence of ulcers by increasing the amount of mucus-secreting cells in the digestive tract. This improves the quality of mucus and lengthens intestinal cell life.
Source: http://youcangetpregnant.blogspot.com/2007/03/herbs-for-cervical-mucus.html

Quote:
* You can get migraines. Everyone's heard of menstrual migraines, but did you know they can occur during 'the other time of the month' as well? "Many women report their headaches occur exclusively during menstruation itself and are symptom-free at other times during the cycle," Ensom says. "But some women have exacerbations during ovulation," due in part to peaking estrogen levels.
Source: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=46984

Quote:
Menstrual Headache - Menstrual headaches are migraine headaches which occur shortly before, during, and after menstruation, or at the time of ovulation. Menstrual headaches are believed to be caused by fluctuating estrogen levels. Estrogens are known to fall immediately prior to a period, especially in women in their late thirties and forties. A drop in estrogen levels may also be responsible for mid-cycle headaches when the surge of estrogen associated with ovulation occurs, and the drop immediately following this surge may trigger a migraine. A sudden change in hormone levels during the final week of taking oral contraception (birth control pills), when estrogen is abruptly withdrawn, can also induce this type of headache. Frequently, the contraceptive pills are stopped in the mistaken belief that the pills have caused the migraine. However, it is often the withdrawal of the pill in the last week which caused the migraine to occur. The addition of a small amount of estrogen during this week may help to prevent such headaches.
Source: http://www.midlife-passages.com/newpage28.htm

Category: headaches, Hormones, suppliments