Now, research is limited around the correlation between headaches and missed/irregular menstrual cycles. However, ever since I have lost my periods, I have started experiencing strong headaches. I have invested a lot of time to understand the causes and the possible link. I’m not fixated finding THE cause, I’m simply fascinated by the human body, mind and hormones. We all know hormones are crucial but we might not know enough, so here’s what I have discovered about the possible link between headaches and missed/irregular menstrual cycles.
Types of Headaches: Cluster Headache
For the longest time I believed I had migraines or the headaches were caused by wearing contact lenses. It wasn’t long ago that I realized my experiences are closer to a cluster headache than anything else. The below image is the simplest to understand the differences. Cluster headaches are said to be intense, stabbing pain on one side of the head, typically around the eye with episodes lasting from 15 minutes to several hours.
The Link Between Menstrual Cycles and Cluster Headaches
But, they are not common and like in many cases, the causes are unknown. However, research suggests irregularities in a small region in the brain, called hypothalamus, may increase the changes of cluster headaches. After a little more research, I found out the hypothalamus is strongly linked to hormones; The main function is to keep the body in a stable state by directly influencing the autonomic nervous system or by managing hormones – BINGO, I thought. For example, it manages
- body temperature
- hunger and thirst
- sense of fullness when eating
- mood, sex drive and so on.
And what are common causes for missed and irregular menstruation? Under eating, over exercising, low body weight. And what happens when you’re under eating and putting your body to a state of starvation? Hormone disruption.
To connect the dots, a specific region of the brain is regulated by hormones. When menstrual cycles are absent, hormonal balance is disturbed, potentially leading to further irregularities in the hypothalamus. This disruption is associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing headaches.
And Now What?
This is not brand new information, but I feel like it is not simply written anywhere. Secondly, does it make sense? It does. Besides feeling pain around my eye, I always feel my body temperature is out of order and I might feel extremely hot – and the less I eat, the more common these headaches are. I’m mainly writing this note to myself; it is not only about eating more, exercising less, sleeping enough – it’s the sum of all to fix your hormones! (when will I learn?)