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While it is known that oestrogen plays a role in migraine for women, a study shows it may also affect men.
The same men who suffer migraines also have more symptoms associated with low levels of testosterone, the male sex hormone, such as erection problems and lower energy.
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Women of child-bearing age are three times more likely to get migraines than men, and this research suggests the hormone could be to blame in both sexes.
Scientists from Leiden University in the Netherlands say more research needs to be done into the effects oestrogen has on men.
Migraine is usually a severe headache and can also cause vomiting or sensitivity to lights and sounds.
It is common and affects around a fifth of women but just one in every 15 men.
The study by Dutch researchers suggests levels of oestrogen – which are naturally much higher in women – may be responsible for this.
The team’s findings were published by the journal Neurology.
But the discovery does not get men off the hook because they also produce the hormone.
Researchers found the men with a lower ratio of male to female sex hormones – those with higher oestrogen levels but the same testosterone as their counterparts – are more likely to suffer migraine.
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