While a hormonal headache and a menstrual migraine are both caused by fluctuating hormones, the difference between the two involves the severity of the head pain.

A hormonal headache may be mild to moderate and cause a nagging ache or throb. It’s a nuisance and uncomfortable, but it might not interfere with your day-to-day routine.

A menstrual migraine, on the other hand, can be debilitating. According to the National Headache Foundation, menstrual migraine affects about 60 percent of women.

If you regularly experience migraine attacks, you may be susceptible to menstrual migraine.

A menstrual migraine differs from a regular migraine in that it isn’t usually associated with an aura. Aura refers to flashing lights, zigzag lines, or other sensory experiences that some people experience before a migraine attack.

A menstrual migraine is characterized by severe throbbing that can start on one side of the forehead and travel to the other. The severity can make it difficult to keep your eyes open, work, or even think.