Oral contraceptive use and parity status increase the risk of migraine: Study

Migraines are prevalent and often debilitating disorder which are now being associated to hormonal factors in women during their reproductive years. A recent study published in the Cephalalgia: An International Journal of Headache conducted in Norway highlighted on how female sex hormones can influence the occurrence of migraines.

The Norwegian Women and Cancer Study encompassed a total 62,959 women who were born between 1943 and 1965. Nearly a quarter of the participants (24.8%) reported a history of migraines. The research looked into both endogenous and exogenous exposure to female sex hormones by utilizing the self-reported data.

The study found a notable association between age at menarche and migraine risk. Women with a later onset of menstruation exhibited a decreased risk of migraines. The hazard ratio (HR) was 0.96, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.95–0.98.

Also, the use of oral contraceptives and parity (the number of children a woman has) were associated to an increased risk of migraines. Oral contraceptive use brought out an HR of 1.12 (95% CI = 1.06–1.18), while having children demonstrated an even higher risk with an HR of 1.37 (95% CI = 1.29–1.46).