For the first time in Australia, a nationally representative survey has uncovered how many women are affected by migraine, one of the top contributors to the women’s health gap.
The 2025 National Women’s Health Survey, conducted by Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, found that 30% of women in Australia are living with migraine. A further 13% are likely to have recently experienced undiagnosed migraine.
According to 2025 World Economic Forum Insights Report, developed with the McKinsey Health Institute, addressing migraine alone would not only improve millions of women’s lives, it would boost the global economy by $80 billion.
Dr Sarah White, CEO of Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, says the data is a wake up call.
“Women are at least twice as likely as men to experience migraine. It hits hardest in their thirties, right when women are building careers, families and their futures. The cost of days lost to pain is immense for individual women, which has broader consequences on society.”
According to Dr Emma Foster, Consultant Neurologist at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, migraine is best understood as a disorder of sensory processing.
“A migraine attack typically lasts anywhere from 4 to 72 hours. The pain is usually very intense and often affects one side of the head. It has a throbbing or pulsating quality, and is commonly accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound.”
Dr Foster says migraine is significantly more common in women than men, with hormones playing a key role.
“Hormonal changes are a major trigger, around the time of periods, during pregnancy and throughout the perimenopausal stage. But we also know that genetic and environmental factors can play a role too.”
To better understand what women with migraine are facing, Jean Hailes partnered with Migraine and Headache Australia. Their research found that women often manage migraine alone, without the information or coordinated care they need.
Carl Cincinnato, Lead of Migraine and Headache Australia, is calling for greater investment and national attention.
“Migraine is the leading cause of disability worldwide for women aged 18 to 49. Yet, funding, research and support for migraine lag far behind other health conditions. We must do better for the one in three women affected by this disorder, which can be debilitating for so many.”
The two not-for-profit organisations have launched a suite of new resources to support women through their migraine journey, from recognising symptoms to seeking specialist care. The resources are available on the Jean Hailes for Women’s Health website.
For more information and to arrange interviews, please contact:
Michaela Cameron, Jean Hailes Communications and Advocacy Lead
Phone: 0429 262 799
Email: [email protected]
Jean Hailes for Women’s Health was established with a commitment to the belief that “If a woman is in good health, her family, community and the society around her also benefit”. We provide frank and fearless advice every day to see women’s health prioritised across Australia.
Jean Hailes recognises the value in forging collaborative partnerships with everyone involved in women’s health, to enable every women to make informed decisions about her health and improve the systems that support them.
Since 1992, we’ve been challenging the status quo and connecting exceptional people, initiatives and ideas to drive best practice health outcomes for women.
Migraine & Headache Australia is the only organisation in Australia that has supported the more than 5 million Australians affected by headache and migraine for over 20 years. As a division of the Brain Foundation, Migraine & Headache Australia is dedicated to improving the quality of life for those living with these conditions through advocacy, education, and support.
All reasonable steps have been taken to ensure the information created by Jean Hailes Foundation, and published on this website is accurate as at the time of its creation.
© 2025 Jean Hailes Foundation. All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part by any means without written permission of the copyright owner. Contact: licensing@jeanhailes.org.au
