---
title: What causes migraine headaches linked to the menstrual cycle?
description: A small study of 22 women with menstrual migraine found some had unusual levels of immune proteins in their blood. It's unclear whether this causes migraine o
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/effect-of-hormones-on-headaches-in-women-and-the-associated-endometrial-patterns-1976/
---

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- What causes migraine headaches linked to the menstrual cycle?

Study, 1976

# What causes migraine headaches linked to the menstrual cycle?

A small study of 22 women with menstrual migraine found some had unusual levels of immune proteins in their blood. It's unclear whether this causes migraine or what it means for treatment.

 Early or limited evidence

22 women with menstrual migraine

## What they did

Researchers measured immune proteins in the blood of 22 women who experience headaches linked to their menstrual cycle.

## What they found

Of the 22 women studied, 6 had lower than normal immunoglobulin A levels and 5 had higher than normal immunoglobulin M levels. The text also noted that the week after menstruation typically has few or no symptoms, even though progesterone levels are very low during this time, suggesting progesterone deficiency is unlikely to be the cause of PMS.

## What it means for you

Some women with menstrual migraine may have differences in immune proteins. However, this was a small study, so results may not apply to all women with this problem. The observation about symptom-free weeks with low progesterone suggests that progesterone deficiency is probably not the main cause of PMS.

22

women with menstrual migraine

6

had lower than normal immunoglobulin A

5

had higher than normal immunoglobulin M

## About the study

Original title [Effect of hormones on headaches in women and the associated endometrial patterns] Authors Grant EC, Pryse-Davies J, Goodwin PM et al. Journal Minerva medica Year 1976 Study design Study Participants 22 Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/945520/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/945520/)

## 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/)

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## Related studies

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