Cluster headache is rare, but not as rare as many think. It is also more common in men than women. Some female patients have reported decades of improper medical treatment due to an inaccurate diagnosis simply because the doctor believed it was impossible for a woman to have cluster headache.
The best way to minimize the risk of misdiagnosis is to seek help from a specially-trained neurologist who is board-certified in headache medicine. There are a few ways to find a good specialist.