March 3, 2026, 12:33 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Migraines have the reputation of being a woman’s ailment, but they can also knock men out. However, the condition is often not diagnosed in men because it manifests itself with other symptoms. Here you can find out how men can recognize whether they suffer from migraines.
A nasty headache rages on one side of the head, and light and noise are almost unbearable. And then this nausea—to the point of vomiting. If you think of migraines, you probably have symptoms like these in your head. However, the condition can also manifest itself in other ways. This is particularly the case for men. According to the German Brain Foundation, the so-called aura occurs more frequently in men than in women.1
Aura with Migraine
Part of an aura can be visual disturbances such as flashes of light, visual field defects, or the perception of bright colors. It can also lead to motor, sensory, speech, and consciousness disorders. Those affected cannot remember words or a feeling of numbness runs through their hands or cheeks. Dizziness, coordination disorders, and paralysis on one side can also be associated with an aura.
Symptoms, Causes, Risk Factors and Treatment of Migraine
More and More Children Suffer From Headaches
Typical Symptoms Less Pronounced in Men
The aura is considered a harbinger of a migraine attack. It is followed by the typical migraine symptoms such as a one-sided, pulsating headache, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light.
“But in men, these characteristic symptoms are often not full or different,” says Prof. Christian Maihöfner, headache expert at the German Brain Foundation. “It is then difficult to make the correct diagnosis.” In older men, for example, migraines are often accompanied by headaches on both sides. This is considered atypical for migraines.
Men Seek Help Less Often
Statistically speaking, 48 out of 100 women will get a migraine in their lifetime, compared to 18 out of 100 men, according to the German Brain Foundation.
However, a new study (published in January 2025) shows that men are less likely than women to seek medical advice and prefer to put up with migraines.2 Experts therefore assume that migraines in men often go undiagnosed—partly because they are less likely to be examined for the condition when they do make their way to the doctor’s surgery.
Regardless of gender, anyone who suspects they are affected by migraines should have it checked out by a doctor because there are ways to treat the condition. To prepare well for the appointment, you can make a note in advance of how many days a month you have a headache, where and how it occurs, and whether it is accompanied by other symptoms.
With material from dpa