Migraine and women's health.

Migraine is a significant women's health concern. Epidemiological research has demonstrated that migraine is one of the most common pain conditions and that women are disproportionately affected. Recent advances in pathophysiology highlight the hormonal antecedents of these sex differences in migraine and the potential influence of hormones on migraine pain pathways. Migraine spawns substantial suffering and disability and gives rise to great economic and personal burden. Despite the availability of effective pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments, only a fraction of migraine sufferers receive state-of-the-art treatment. Access to effective treatment is limited by economic and social barriers to care, including the long-standing social stigma that trivializes headache. Although doubtless a women's health issue, migraine has been largely overlooked in the women's health initiatives. This paper argues that migraine is an important women's health concern and that greater attention to migraine promises to make a demonstrable improvement in the quality of life of many women.