Beyond the Pain: New Hope for Women Battling Migraine

By Dr. Mohammad Ali, MD

It is time we stop dismissing migraines as “just headaches.” For millions of women, migraines are a relentless, invisible storm striking without warning, disrupting careers, crippling social lives, and eroding

mental health. They steal time, energy, and joy from women in the prime of their lives. And yet, they remain underdiagnosed,

undertreated and misunderstood.

Women are three times more likely than men to suffer from migraines. It’s a neurological disorder shaped by complex interactions between hormones, brain chemistry, and genetic predisposition.

Migraines exist in various forms, including migraine with aura, without aura, chronic migraine, and menstrual migraine. Although the hallmark symptoms are intense, pulsating head pain often confined to one side, migraine episodes can also include vision disturbances, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and even stroke-like symptoms. Some people

experience neurological symptoms without any pain at all, illustrating the wide spectrum of this underrecognized disorder.

Hormonal fluctuations significantly increase vulnerability in women. Changes during menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause can act as powerful migraine triggers. Despite the established link, many women’s concerns are downplayed, mislabeled as emotional or stress-related. Nearly 20% of women live with migraines and countless more go undiagnosed or undertreated due to societal bias and stigma.

The ripple effects of migraines go far beyond the headache itself. They can interfere with professional obligations, impair personal relationships, and compromise a person’s ability to enjoy life. Migraines also have strong associations with other medical conditions like anxiety, depression, insomnia, fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome, which exacerbate suffering and complicate treatment.

Fortunately, recent scientific advances have led to a transformative shift in how migraines are managed. In the last five years, a new class of medications CGRP antagonists has emerged as a game-changer. These drugs block a specific neurotransmitter involved in migraine attacks, significantly reducing both the frequency and intensity of episodes. For many women, these therapies have restored their lives.

For rapid symptom relief, Gepants, a newer class of oral medications, are proving effective with fewer side effects than traditional treatments. Meanwhile, chemodenervation techniques like Onabotulinum injections at targeted nerve sites offer long-term relief.

Additionally, neuromodulation devices that stimulate specific nerves non-invasively provide a medication-free option that’s both safe and effective.

Beyond pharmaceuticals, lifestyle modification and behavioral strategies remain vital. Many women experience substantial relief through practical, at-home interventions such as hydration, consistent sleep, stress management, avoidance of dietary triggers, menstrual

cycle tracking, breathing exercises and cold compresses.

Migraine is a complex health issue that intersects with broader gender disparities in medicine. It’s a condition that deserves to be treated with the same seriousness and compassion afforded to other chronic illnesses.

Women with migraines are not seeking sympathy, they are seeking solutions. They deserve personalized care, validation of their pain and access to cutting-edge treatment options.

In closing, migraines are not merely an inconvenience or a passing headache, they are a significant public health issue that demands attention. The pain is real, the science is evolving, and the need for empathy and implementation of advanced treatment options is urgent.

Dr. Mohammad Ali, MD

Medical Director

Interventional Pain & Spine Center

Wexford, PA 15090

Ph: 724-965-8946

www.ipscpgh.com

Dr. Ali, MD, is a Neurologist and Pain Management Specialist dedicated to advancing care for migraine and chronic pain patients. He advocates for equitable access to cutting-edge therapies.