How common is the symptom Headaches / Migraine among people with endometriosis?
87,54% of people with endometriosis reported Headaches / Migraine as a symptom of endometriosis in our survey.
How common is the symptom Headaches / Migraine among people with endometriosis compared to the non-affected group?
20,42% of people with endometriosis suffer from the symptom Headaches / Migraine very strong compared to a prevalence of 8,18% among non-affected individuals.
The following table shows the symptom Headaches / Migraine in people with endometriosis compared to non-affected individuals. The scale ranges from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very strong).
| Symptom severity | Endometriosis | Non-affected | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| not at all | 12,46% | 22,01% | -9,56% |
| slightly | 14,82% | 22,01% | -7,19% |
| moderate | 24,74% | 35,85% | -11,11% |
| strong | 27,57% | 11,95% | 15,62% |
| very strong | 20,42% | 8,18% | 12,24% |
Based on the datasets, we calculated the Kendall correlation. The following symptoms could be related to Headaches / Migraine.
| Symptom name | Correlation |
|---|---|
| Dizziness | weak correlation (28,00%) |
| Limb pain | weak correlation (28,00%) |
| Joint pain | weak correlation (26,00%) |
| Exhaustion / Fatigue | weak correlation (25,00%) |
| Nausea | weak correlation (24,00%) |
| Abdominal pain outside the lower abdomen | weak correlation (24,00%) |
| Back pain | weak correlation (23,00%) |
| Bloated belly / Endo-Belly | weak correlation (21,00%) |
| Kidney pain | weak correlation (21,00%) |
| Shortness of breath | weak correlation (21,00%) |
| Shoulder pain | weak correlation (21,00%) |
| Depression | weak correlation (21,00%) |
| Chest pain | weak correlation (20,00%) |
| Leg pain | weak correlation (20,00%) |
Headaches, including migraine, and endometriosis frequently occur together. Nevertheless, they are distinct medical conditions. With few exceptions, only women develop endometriosis. Migraine, although it also affects men, is markedly more common in women. And if you have endometriosis, several studies indicate you have about twice the risk of migraine compared with women without endometriosis.
Migraine is a paroxysmal form of headache. The head pain usually affects only one side but can spread to the other. It is described as pulsating, throbbing, and stabbing. Autonomic symptoms such as nausea and sensitivity to noise, light, and odors often accompany it. Around twelve to fifteen percent of women in Germany have migraine, whereas only six to eight percent of men are affected. In women, the disorder typically begins between ages 12 and 16, around the time of the first menstrual period. In men, onset is usually between ages 16 and 21.
In endometriosis, uterine lining–like cells grow in other parts of the body. These clusters of cells are called endometriosis lesions. They are found predominantly in the pelvis but can also involve, among other sites, the bowel, the diaphragm, and the lungs. Because these growths are subject to the hormonal cycle, they initially proliferate and then bleed again at the end of the cycle. This can lead to inflammation, adhesions, and scarring, and cysts may form. Newer studies have confirmed a connection between endometriosis and migraine that had long been suspected: the neurotransmitter CGRP (Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide) appears to play a role in both conditions. In both women with endometriosis and women with migraine, CGRP levels at the time of menstruation are higher than mid-cycle levels. CGRP is released from nerve cells into the blood and triggers inflammation.