Observational studyHeadache2026
Headache in individuals undergoing hormone therapy for gender transition: A cross-sectional, observational study.
Observational study in Headache, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Sex-specific management of migraine a systematic review and consensus statement from the European Headache Federation (EHF).The journal of headache and pain · 2026Pooled it
- Sex and gender-related differences in neurological diseases: current challenges and recommendations for clinical practice.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo assess the prevalence, frequency, and characteristics of headache disorders in transgender individuals receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), and to explore the relationship between GAHT and headache pathophysiology. We hypothesized that estrogen-based GAHT would be associated with increased risk of headache, particularly migraine, whereas testosterone-based GAHT would be associated with reduced headache burden.
backgroundMigraine is a highly disabling headache disorder that disproportionately affects cisgender women, with hormonal fluctuations playing a key role in its pathophysiology. Despite extensive research in cisgender populations, there is a gap in our understanding about the prevalence and characteristics of headache disorders, including migraine, in transgender and nonbinary individuals undergoing GAHT, and there is true urgency to fill this knowledge gap.
methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional, observational study using an anonymous online survey targeting transgender and nonbinary individuals in Argentina from October 2023 to February 2024. Eligible participants were aged ≥18 years and receiving GAHT. The validated Migraine Screen Questionnaire (MS-Q) was used to identify migraine-like headaches. Additional items assessed changes in headache characteristics associated with GAHT.
resultsOf 160 participants, 102 (63.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 56.1%-70.8%) reported experiencing headaches. Of these, 86.3% (number [n] = 88) were receiving testosterone, 11.8% (n = 12) estrogens, and 2.0% (n = 2) were receiving other GAHT. Only 24.5% (n = 24) reported a prior headache diagnosis, including 18 participants (17.6%; 95% CI 11.3%-26.2%) with migraine. Based on the MS-Q, 46.1% (n = 47) screened positive for migraine-like headaches. New headache or worsening of headache was more frequently reported by estrogen users (66.6%) compared to those using testosterone (27.2%). Improvement or resolution of headaches was reported by 26.1% of testosterone users compared to 8.3% of estrogen users.
conclusionEstrogen-based GAHT was associated with a higher proportion of individuals reporting new or worsening headaches, whereas testosterone-based GAHT was more often associated with headache improvement. These associations underscore the need for further research into how GAHT modulates headache patterns, as well as the high rate of underdiagnosed headache disorders in this population.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.