Odors as triggering and worsening factors for migraine in men.

OBJECTIVE To assess the role of odors in triggering or worsening migraine in men. METHOD Ninety-eight male migraineurs from the general population were assessed individually through questionnaires. Environmental factors relating to their migraine were reported, with special focus on the role of odors. RESULTS Odors were the second most frequent triggering factor for migraine attacks (48%), behind stressful situations (59%). Likewise, odors were the second most frequent worsening factor (73%), just behind excessive light (74%). Thirty-three individuals (33.4%) stated that odors were both triggering and worsening factors for their migraine attacks. Perfume, cigarette smoke and cleaning products were the most frequent migraine-related odors reported by these male migraineurs. CONCLUSION This was the first study to assess the role of odors in migraine exclusively in men. There was a high degree of odor-related migraine among these men, thus suggesting that patient education could alert such individuals to gender-related factors, since different triggering and worsening factors have been reported by males and females.