Study, 2010
Are migraines around the menstrual cycle different from other migraines?
Yes. Menstrual migraines last longer, cause more disability, respond less well to treatment, and come back more often within 24 hours compared to other migraines.
What they did
Researchers followed 107 women who had frequent migraines and asked them to record each migraine in a daily diary. They compared features of migraines that happened around menstruation with migraines at other times of the cycle.
What they found
Menstrual migraines lasted 23.4 hours compared to 16.1 hours for other migraines. Menstrual migraines caused disability 85.6% of the time compared to 75.6% for other migraines. Menstrual migraines responded to treatment within 2 hours only 6.7% of the time compared to 13.4% for other migraines. Menstrual migraines came back within 24 hours 36.0% of the time compared to 19.6% for other migraines.
What it means for you
If you have migraines around your period, they tend to be harder to treat and more disabling than your other migraines. You may need different treatment approaches. This finding was in a single group of women being followed, so results should be confirmed in other groups.
23.4 hours
menstrual migraine duration
85.6%
menstrual migraines causing disability
6.7%
menstrual migraine treatment response
About the study
- Original title
- Menstrual and nonmenstrual migraines differ in women with menstrually-related migraine
- Authors
- Pinkerman B, Holroyd K
- Journal
- Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache
- Year
- 2010
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 107
- What was tested
- Acute migraine therapy when migraines occurred
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1177/0333102409359315
Topics
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