Role of estrogen in development of migraine

Migraines are benign conditions but negatively affects the quality of life of the migraineurs. Migraines are expressed as pain associated with vasodilatation of cerebral and meningeal arteries and are classified as occurring with or without a visual aura. Migraines are 3 times more common in women than in men. They may be associated with the menstrual period, ameliorated by pregnancy, diminished at menopause and may worsen with menopausal hormone treatment. These observations indicate that fluctuations in estrogen levels may be a precipitating factor for migraines. Several polymorphisms are associated with familial migraine including genetic variation in Estrogen Receptors (ER). ER stimulates NO production in vascular endothelium this causes direct modification of migraine. Migraine is a risk factor for stroke, thus, it is concluded that the elevated estrogen level is one of the main factors responsible for the development of migraine and its preponderance in females along with the polymorphisms of estrogen receptors that affect nitric oxide production therefore causing modulation of migraines.