More women than men suffer from migraines. While it can seem like a migraine comes out of nowhere, there are often underlying causes. This is why many doctors have their patients keep a migraine diary. If you can identify the cause of your migraines, you can avoid those triggers and reduce the frequency of your migraines.

Hormones

According to Women'sHealth.com, more than half of women's migraines occur just before, during or just after women's menstrual cycles. The cycles of estrogen production have a strong effect on the timing of migraines. Birth control pills may worsen migraines in some women--though in others they actually reduce the frequency of migraines. Many women have an increase in migraines when they are pregnant. Girls often start experiencing migraines after they begin menstruating, and many women report that their migraines cease altogether after menopause.

Foods

WebMD lists several common foods as possible triggers for migraines. These can include aged cheeses, alcohol, ice cream or other cold foods, organ meats, caffeine, aspartame, or cultured dairy products such as yogurt. Going without eating, such as fasting or skipping a meal, can also lead to a migraine.

Sleep

Both lack of sleep and too much sleep can be issues for migraine sufferers. Try to keep on a regular, consistent sleep schedule.

Stress

Many women find that they have migraines immediately after a stressful time. For example, according to The Migraine Trust, more migraines happen on Fridays and Saturdays than any other days, because those are the times when women unwind from a stressful week. Women might also experience migraines after a family reunion, college finals, or even on their honeymoons

Weather

According to the Mayo Clinic, changes in the weather can trigger migraines in some people. Nobody understands why, but migraine sufferers are more likely than others to react to a change in barometric pressure, weather patterns, temperature, and humidity

Source:

Mayo Clinic: Migraines

Women's Health.Gov

WebMD: Food Triggers for Migraines

More Information:

The Migraine Headache Center

The Migraine Trust