Sex and Gender Differences in Migraine: Advancing Research, Care, and Advocacy
September 18, 2026 @ 8:30 am - 4:00 pm EDT
Migraine is a complex neurological disorder that can cause recurrent headache attacks, sensory disturbances, nausea, and significant disability. Migraines disproportionately affect women and are shaped by biological and hormonal factors across the female lifespan, including puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and menopause. Women may also experience overlapping cardiovascular, psychiatric, sleep, inflammatory, metabolic, chronic pain, and reproductive health conditions that can complicate diagnosis and treatment. Although advances in therapies and other treatment approaches have expanded options for patients, important gaps remain in early diagnosis, individualized treatment selection, access to specialty care, and management across life stages.
Improving outcomes for women with migraine requires research that better reflects sex- and gender-related influences, coordinated care that addresses comorbidities, and practical resources that support patient-provider communication and shared decision-making. Greater attention to treatment access, affordability, insurance barriers, and health disparities is also needed to ensure that scientific advances translate into equitable care.
The Society for Women’s Health Research is convening an interdisciplinary Migraine Working Group of researchers, health care providers, patient advocates, nonprofit leaders, and other stakeholders for a closed convening in September 2026. During the convening, the Working Group will examine the state of migraine research and care for women, with an emphasis on gaps across the research continuum, treatment and management, comorbidities, and patient experience.
Objectives
The objectives of the roundtable are to:
- Review the state of basic, translational, and clinical migraine research and identify priority gaps related to sex-specific mechanisms and women across the lifespan
- Examine opportunities to improve diagnosis, treatment selection, and comprehensive management, including pharmacologic, device-based, behavioral, and lifestyle approaches
- Explore how life stages and comorbid conditions influence migraine burden, treatment decisions, and health outcomes;
Identify barriers related to access, affordability, insurance coverage, specialty care, and patient education - Develop actionable recommendations and educational materials for patients, health care providers, researchers, nonprofit leaders, and policy stakeholders
Working Group Participants
Jessica Ailani, MD, FAHS, FAAN, Professor of Clinical Neurology, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, Director Headache Center, Medstar Georgetown Headache Center
Olivia Begasse de Dhaem, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, University of Connecticut, Medical Director, Institute for Headache and Brain Health
Susan Doughty, Executive Director, Coalition for Headache and Migraine Patients (CHAMP)
Annika Ehrlich, DNP, Nurse Practitioner, UCSF Health Headache Center
Kylie Gagan, RN, BSN, MHD, Director of Education, Association of Migraine Disorders
Fredrick Godley, MD, Co-Founder & President, Association of Migraine Disorders
Shirley Kessel, Board Member & Former Executive Director, Miles for Migraine
Susan McCrea, PsyD, BCB, Clinical Psychologist, Jefferson Headache Center, Thomas Jefferson University
Kellie Pokrifka, Social Media Director, Migraine World Summit
Jose Posas III, MD, Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Virginia School of Medicine
Elizabeth Seng, PhD, Professor, Yeshiva University, Psychologist Investigator, Headache Centers of Excellence, Veterans Health Administration
Amaal J. Starling, MD, Associate Professor of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
Julienne Verdi, JD, Executive Director, Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy and the Headache Alliance
Todd Schwedt, MD, MSCI, Professor of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Arizona.
Sponsor
Support for this educational program has been provided by Pfizer. SWHR maintains independence and editorial control over program development, content, and work products.
