--- title: Do migraine headaches change at different times of the menstrual cycle? description: For women whose migraines are linked to their cycle, migraine attacks during or near menstruation last longer and are harder to treat than migraines at other url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/characteristics-of-menstrual-and-nonmenstrual-attacks-in-women-with-menstrually-2004/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do migraine headaches change at different times of the menstrual cycle? Study, 2004 # Do migraine headaches change at different times of the menstrual cycle? For women whose migraines are linked to their cycle, migraine attacks during or near menstruation last longer and are harder to treat than migraines at other times. Moderate study design 64 women with migraine linked to their menstrual cycle ## What they did A 2-month diary study of 64 women with migraine linked to their menstrual cycle. Women tracked when their migraines happened and compared migraines around menstruation to migraines at other times. ## What they found Migraines during or near menstruation lasted longer and caused greater work-related disability. Pain-free relief 2 hours after taking medicine happened in 13.5% of menstrual migraines versus 32.9% of migraines at other times. ## What it means for you Women with cycle-linked migraine should expect their period-related migraines to last longer and respond less well to medicine. The study only tracked what happened naturally, so it does not show how to prevent these migraines. 64 women tracked for 2 months 13.5% period migraines pain-free after 2 hours 32.9% other migraines pain-free after 2 hours ## About the study Original title Characteristics of menstrual and nonmenstrual attacks in women with menstrually related migraine referred to headache centres Authors Granella F, Sances G, Allais G et al. Journal Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache Year 2004 Study design Study What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2982.2004.00741.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2982.2004.00741.x) Original abstract Aim of this study was to determine whether menstrual attacks differ from nonmenstrual attacks (NMA) as regards clinical features or response to abortive treatment in women affected by menstrually related migraine (MRM) referred to tertiary care centres. Sixty-four women with MRM were enrolled in a 2-month diary study. Perimenstrual attacks were split into three groups--premenstrual (PMA), menstrual (MA) and late menstrual (LMA)--and compared to nonmenstrual ones. Perimenstrual attacks were significantly longer than NMA. No other migraine attack features were found to differ between the various phases of the cycle. Migraine work-related disability was significantly greater in PMA and MA than in NMA. Acute attack treatment was less effective in perimenstrual attacks. Pain-free at 2 h after dosage was achieved in 13.5% of MA (OR 0.41; 95% CI 0.22, 0.76) vs. 32.9% of NMA. We concluded that, in MRM, perimenstrual attacks are longer and less responsive to acute attack treatment than NMA. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## 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/) 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 Systematic review, 2023 What hormonal treatments have been tested for PMDD, menstrual migraine, and catamenial epilepsy? Cohort study, 2022 Can women accurately tell if they have period-related migraines, or do they need to track them? Guideline, 2021 How should migraine be managed in women, particularly menstrual migraine? Randomised trial, 2016 Does telcagepant prevent migraines during the menstrual period? Randomised trial, 2014 Does the combination of sumatriptan and naproxen sodium reduce menstrual symptoms and migraine? Randomised trial, 2005 Does sumatriptan work for migraines around the menstrual cycle? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗