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Women + Migraines: The Hormone Connection
Women are three times more likely to get migraines, and hormones play a big role. Learn the common triggers and gentle naturopathic ways to find real relief.
Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Courtney Ranieri, ND, a licensed naturopathic doctor registered with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario (Reg. #3726). Last reviewed July 2026.
Women are 3x more likely to experience migraines than men... and we can likely thank our hormones for that.
Migraines usually occur more frequently in the days just before or during your period. This is because of the fluctuation in estrogen levels. Birth control pills can also impact migraines.
Other migraine triggers - stress, lack of sleep, neck tension, irregular eating, certain foods (foods that contain nitrates like processed meats, alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, cheese, citrus fruits), high/low blood sugar, and dehydration.
Naturopathic migraine support:
- balancing hormones
- proper nutrition
- stress and sleep support
- targeted supplements: there is research to show that specific B-vitamins, ginger, magnesium, CoQ10 and feverfew can decrease migraine severity and/or frequency
If you are interested in optimizing your hormonal health, we would love to help you reach your health goals.
About the author
Dr. Courtney Ranieri, ND is a board-licensed naturopathic doctor and the founder of Somewhere Health. She earned her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto and holds an Honours Bachelor of Science from the University of Western Ontario. Her clinical focus spans hormonal health, fertility, digestion, and women’s health, with advanced training in pelvic floor therapy and integrative fertility care.
