What does a menopause headache feel like?

A menopause headache often feels more like a migraine than a basic tension headache. The most typical pattern is throbbing pain, often on one side of the head, and it can come with sensitivity to light and sound. Some people also get nausea, sometimes vomiting, and may want to lie down in a dark, quiet room until it passes.

That’s different from a regular tension headache, which usually feels more like a dull ache, pressure, or a tight band across the forehead, temples, scalp, or neck.

Here at Alloy, we usually think about these headaches in the context of hormone shifts, especially the drop and fluctuation in estrogen during perimenopause. They can also get worse around the time a period is due.

If you want a fuller breakdown of migraine versus regular headache symptoms, this Alloy article is useful: Hormonal headaches in perimenopause. We also have a quick symptom page here: Menopause headaches.

If a headache is sudden, severe, lasts more than a day, or doesn’t respond to treatment, it’s a good idea to get medical care.

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