Member Stories and Migraine Science episodes about Hormones.
42 years old, Canada
Self-reported migraine
At start:
5 days/month
After 13 months:
0 days/month
What changed
Her three-day migraine episodes gradually eased, with the biggest improvement in the past six months after nearly two years in the program.
'There's always hope and there's always progress."
Does bloating show up around your migraines? Discover how your gut, hormones, and nervous system may be revealing a deeper pattern.
55 years old, New Zealand
Self-reported migraine
At start:
13 days/month
After 3 months:
3 days/month
What changed
Went from a migraine six days a week to about one a month, with enough stability to compete again and get married.
"I actually can be normal again."
Could the PCOS rename change how you see migraines? Discover how hormones, metabolism, inflammation, and pain may all connect.
Do your migraines become unbearable before your period — along with mood swings, anxiety, rage, or deep exhaustion? What if it’s not “just PMS”? In this episode of **Migraine Heroes Podcast,** host **Diane Ducarme** explores the often-overlooked connection between migraines and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). Many women spend years believing their symptoms are normal hormonal changes, while their nervous system is actually struggling with a much deeper hormonal sensitivity. Blending neuroscience, hormones, and holistic insight, this episode helps you better understand why your brain and body may feel completely different before your cycle — and what you can do to support yourself more gently and effectively. You’ll discover: 💡 The key warning signs that your “PMS migraine” may actually be linked to PMDD 💡 Why migraines, emotional overwhelm, fatigue, and brain fog can all stem from hormonal sensitivity in the nervous system 💡 Simple ways to better support your hormones, emotional balance, and resilience before your next cycle This episode is for anyone who feels dismissed, confused, or overwhelmed by intense premenstrual symptoms — and wants to better understand what their body may truly be asking for. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on [migraineheroes.com](http://migraineheroes.com) **References:** - **Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: Burden and Treatment (Pearlstein & Steiner, 2008): **This review explains the burden of PMDD and summarizes diagnosis and treatment options. Read more [here](https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/2440788). - **Ovarian Hormones and Migraine (Martin & Behbehani, 2006):** This paper explains how estrogen and progesterone influence migraine mechanisms and pain-processing pathways. Read more [here](https://europepmc.org/article/MED/16412147). - **Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder and the Brain (Hantsoo & Epperson, 2015):** This paper discusses the brain and neurobiological basis of PMDD, including hormone sensitivity and mood regulation. Read more [here](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4097038). - **Hormonal Management of Migraine at Menopause (Nappi et al., 2009 – related alternative):** This review explores how hormonal changes during menopause affect migraine and how hormonal management may help. Read more [here](https://europepmc.org/article/MED/19465675). - **Migraine Pathophysiology (Burstein et al., 2015):** This paper explains migraine as a complex neurological process involving trigeminovascular activation, brainstem pathways, and sensory processing. Read more [here](https://www.jneurosci.org/content/35/17/6619). - **Treatment of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (Rapkin & Lewis, 2013):** This review summarizes treatment options for PMDD, including SSRIs, hormonal approaches, and adjunctive therapies. Read more [here](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.2217/WHE.13.62). **Disclaimer**: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for providing medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions. For women, men, and children who suffer from migraine disease, Migraine Heroes is your go-to resource for understanding, managing, and overcoming migraine attacks. We cover all types of migraines and related headaches, including primary and secondary migraines, chronic migraines, and cluster migraines. We dive deep into the complexities of migraine with aura and migraine without aura, as well as rarer forms like hemiplegic migraine, retinal migraine, and acephalgic migraine (silent migraine). Our discussions also extend to cervicogenic headaches, ice pick headaches, and pressure headaches, which often mimic migraine or contribute to overall migraine burden.
This week, Diane Ducarme joins me to talk about migraines through a root cause lens. Instead of focusing only on pain relief, we explore why the brain goes into pain in the first place and what the body may be trying to signal when migraines show up. We discuss how different migraine patterns can have very different drivers. Diane explains how trauma, perfectionism, nervous system overload, hormone shifts, and digestion issues can all contribute to migraine symptoms, even when life outwardly seems calm or stable. We also talk about why many people do not recognize their own stress levels, how the nervous system can become hypersensitive over time, and why migraines are often delayed signals from the body rather than immediate reactions. Learning your personal patterns can be one of the most powerful steps toward long term relief. Diane’s free Migraine Heroes app: <https://migraineheroes.com/download/> KEY TAKEAWAYS: • Migraines often reflect deeper system imbalances • Stress patterns can exist even when life feels “normal” • Trauma and perfectionism can keep the body in stress mode • Digestive dysfunction can amplify migraine triggers • Hormones and cycle changes often influence migraine timing • Learning your patterns is key to long term relief ABOUT GUEST: Diane Ducarme is the host of the Migraine Heroes Podcast and Founder of the Migraine Heroes app. She studied Business and Neuroscience with Harvard Business School and HarvardX, and trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine in Shanghai and at the Academy of Healing Nutrition. Diane blends Eastern medicine, engineering thinking, and modern science to uncover the real roots of migraine. Through her podcast, Migraine Heroes, she shares breakthrough insights, practical tools, and empowering strategies to help people reclaim control of their lives. WHERE TO FIND: Website: <https://migraineheroes.com/> Instagram: <https://www.instagram.com/migraineheroes/> WHERE TO FIND CHRISTA: Website: <https://www.christabiegler.com/> Instagram: @anti.inflammatory.nutritionist Podcast Instagram: @lessstressedlife YouTube: <https://www.youtube.com/@lessstressedlife> More Links + Quizzes: <https://www.christabiegler.com/links>
If you’re a woman struggling with migraines, this episode is for you. Migraines affect women far more than men—especially during perimenopause and menopause—yet most women are never told why. In this episode of Functional Moms Podcast, we’re joined by Diane Ducarme, host of the Migraine Heroes Podcast and Founder & CEO of the Migraine Heroes app, to uncover the hidden migraine triggers women experience and how to address them at the root. Diane explains why migraines are not a random neurological problem, but a meaningful signal from your body, often tied to hormones, stress, nervous system overload, and metabolic imbalances that uniquely affect women. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ Why migraines are more common in women than men ✅ What happens in the body during perimenopause and menopause that triggers migraines ✅ The hidden causes most women (and doctors) miss ✅ How to approach migraine relief naturally and sustainably If you’re tired of pushing through pain or relying only on medication, this conversation will help you understand your migraines—and your body—on a deeper level. About Our Guest: Diane Ducarme is the Founder & CEO of the Migraine Heroes App and host of the Migraine Heroes Podcast. With a background in neuroscience training from HarvardX and a Harvard Business School education, Diane blends Eastern medicine, engineering, and modern science to help women reduce migraines by addressing root causes. Connect with Diane: [Migraine Heroes Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/migraine-heroes-chronic-migraine-hemiplegic-migraine/id1701796800) [Migraine Heroes Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/migraineheroes/) [Migraine Heroes Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/@migraineheroes) [Migraine Heroes Website](https://migraineheroes.com/) [Functional Moms Podcast Supplement Store: 25% OFF top-quality brands:](https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/functional-moms) Please FOLLOW Functional Moms Podcast on Apple Podcasts & Spotify and SUBSCRIBE on YouTube to support women’s health conversations. [Functional Moms Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/@functionalmomspodcast/) [Functional Moms Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/4iYrNkAQMwzcX5FRJH5aEW?si=e1dd9390c601498) [Functional Moms Apple Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/functional-moms-podcast/id1686808485)
Migraines often become more frequent, more intense, or more unpredictable during perimenopause and menopause—and for many women, medication either stops working or introduces new problems. If you’ve ever wondered why your body feels harder to manage in midlife, this episode offers a new, compassionate lens. In this conversation, we explore migraines as more than isolated headaches. Hormonal fluctuations, stress overload, blood sugar swings, and even how your body processes food can all influence migraine patterns. When these systems are out of balance, migraines may be one of the body’s clearest warning signs. Our guest, Diane Ducarme, blends Western neuroscience with Traditional Chinese Medicine to help women understand what migraines are communicating beneath the surface. Rather than silencing symptoms, this episode focuses on recognizing patterns, reducing hidden triggers, and restoring trust in your body’s signals—especially during the hormonal transitions of midlife. If you’re eating “healthy,” feeling exhausted anyway, or frustrated that nothing seems to work anymore, this episode will help you stop blaming yourself and start understanding what your body actually needs. What You Will Learn - How perimenopause and menopause-related hormonal shifts can alter migraine frequency and severity - Why migraines often involve the nervous system, liver function, and whole-body stress—not just the head - The difference between fast and slow migraine triggers, including food-related triggers that are commonly misunderstood - How depletion, stress, and imbalance may show up as migraines long before lab work flags a problem - Ways to work with your body’s signals instead of fighting them during midlife About Our Guest Diane Ducarme is the host of the Migraine Heroes podcast and founder of the Migraine Heroes app. She integrates Traditional Chinese Medicine with Western science to help people uncover root causes of migraines often missed by conventional care. To learn more about our guest, click here: <https://hellohotflash.com/episodes/menopause-migraine> Additional Resources - [Learn how to feel clear, steady, and in control again:](https://hellohotflash.com/assessments) - [Listen to the limited-series podcast Christian Women and Menopause: ](https://hellohotflash.com/christian-women-and-menopause)
Why migraines strike before your period? Learn how hormonal shifts lower your threshold, and how to calm your system before pain starts.
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