Migraines are common. About 1 in 10 people will get a migraine attack in any one year. Nearly 1 in 5 people (18 percent) will have an attack at some point in their life.¹

• Studies show that migraines affect 28 million people in the United States.^{2 3}
• Migraines are about three times more common in women than in men. They affect about 18 percent of women and about 6 percent of men each year.⁴
• For some women, the start of their period each month may trigger an attack. Researchers think this happens because the level of a hormone called estradiol drops at this time in a woman's cycle. Attacks linked to the menstrual cycle are more likely to occur on the first two days of a woman's period.^{4 5}
• Many women find that their migraines become less severe or disappear when they are pregnant.
• Migraine seems to be more common among people who are white than among people who are black or Asian. Researchers don't know why this is.⁵
• Children can get migraine attacks, too. Attacks can start at any age, but they usually start in the early-to-mid-teen years.¹ Migraine headaches tend to begin earlier in boys than in girls. A study showed that the peak age for a first episode of migraine without aura was 10 to 11 in boys and 14 to 17 in girls. Migraine with aura usually starts earlier, with a peak age of around 5 for boys and 12 to 13 for girls.^{4 6}

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.