Hormones and migraine libido

Health & Wellness Migraine & Headache
1

so i’ve been tracking my hormones and migraine patterns for a while now, and i’ve noticed something kinda weird. when my estrogen drops, my libido tanks too. but when i’m on a preventive like propranolol, it’s like my libido is less connected to my estrogen levels. has anyone else seen this?

i’m not talking about the nausea or fatigue that can kill your sex drive, i’m talking about a genuine increase in libido when on propranolol. i’ve been on it for a bit now, and i’ve noticed that my partner and i are way more active when i’m taking it regularly. it’s not like i’m more energetic or anything, it’s just that i’m more interested. i’ve been trying to figure out if it’s the propranolol itself or if it’s just that my migraines are more under control, but i’m not sure.

does anyone have any insight on this? is it possible that propranolol is affecting my hormone levels in some way that’s increasing my libido? or is this just a coincidence? i’ve been doing some reading and it seems like there’s not a lot of research on this specific topic, so i’m hoping someone out there has some personal experience or knowledge to share.

fwiw, i’m on 80mg of propranolol and i’ve been taking it for about 6 months now. my migraine count has definitely gone down, but it’s not just that - it’s like my whole libido has shifted. anyone else experience this?

2

ymmv. what you’re saying about “a genuine increase in libido when on propranolol” really makes me think about how the body reacts in ways that aren’t always clear-cut.

i know for my own lupus, my C3/C4 levels will drop weeks before a flare, but my rheumatologist wouldn’t see that if i only got tested once a year, you have to push for the timeline. i wonder if it’s a similar subtle shift for your hormones that only shows up with consistent logging and frequent labs.

3

ymmv. what you’re saying about “a genuine increase in libido when on propranolol” really makes me think about how the body reacts in ways that aren’t always obvious.

it’s kinda like how my C3/C4 sometimes drops before my ESR or CRP even budge, but the rheum just looks at the normal snapshot. you’re seeing a shift in a baseline connection, not just a reduction in migraine.

i’ve got something similar with photosensitivity and my C3/C4 numbers, where the sun exposure will shift it even before i feel like i’m flaring. it’s like a different system running alongside the main issue.

1 Like