---
title: What causes migraines linked to your period and how can they be treated?
description: Menstrual migraines are triggered by estrogen level changes during the menstrual cycle. They significantly affect quality of life and can be managed with prev
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/a-cyclic-pain-the-pathophysiology-and-treatment-of-menstrual-migraine-2013/
---

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- What causes migraines linked to your period and how can they be treated?

Review, 2013

# What causes migraines linked to your period and how can they be treated?

Menstrual migraines are triggered by estrogen level changes during the menstrual cycle. They significantly affect quality of life and can be managed with preventive medications and hormonal birth control.

 Moderate study design

Women of reproductive age with menstrual or menstrually-related migraine (from literature review)

## What they did

Reviewed medical literature on menstrual migraines, including what causes them, which women get them, and what treatments are available.

## What they found

Menstrual migraine occurs regularly in at least 2 of 3 consecutive menstrual cycles, happening from 2 days before to 3 days after the first day of menstruation. Pure menstrual migraine only occurs during menstruation. Menstrually related migraine also occurs at other times of the cycle. Estrogen fluctuation is believed to be involved.

## What it means for you

If your migraines follow your menstrual cycle, you have a recognized condition called menstrual migraine. Estrogen changes trigger it, but how exactly is not fully understood. Several preventive and acute treatments exist. For detailed treatment options, speak with a doctor.

at least 2 of 3

menstrual cycle pattern needed for diagnosis

day -2 to +3

timing window around menstruation

## About the study

Original title A cyclic pain: the pathophysiology and treatment of menstrual migraine Authors Mathew PG, Dun EC, Luo JJ Journal Obstetrical & gynecological survey Year 2013 Study design Review What was tested Preventive and acute migraine treatments Read the paper [doi.org/10.1097/ogx.0b013e31827f2496](https://doi.org/10.1097/ogx.0b013e31827f2496)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Migraine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-migraine/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Randomised trial, 2011

Does sumatriptan-naproxen help women with period migraines and period pain function better?

Non-randomised trial, 2010

Are migraine attacks during the menstrual period worse than at other times?

Survey study, 2026

Do women with menstrual migraine have worse PMS and PMDD, and does coping strategy affect headache burden?

Survey study, 2023

How common are migraines linked to the menstrual cycle in women with PMS?

Survey study, 2018

Do women who get migraines during their period have more PMS symptoms?

Study, 2011

Does the migraine medicine sumamigren work the same way for menstrual and non-menstrual migraines?

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