Survey study, 2007
Why does migraine get worse around menstruation and how can it be treated?
Migraine in some women worsens around menstruation, probably because of declining estrogen after hormone levels drop. Treatment with triptans, NSAIDs, or other drugs can help acute attacks, and prevention strategies are available.
What they did
Review of research on menstrual migraine, its causes, and treatment options.
What they found
Many women have increased migraine frequency around menstruation, and these attacks may be more severe than migraines at other times of the cycle. Menstrual migraine is probably caused by declining estrogen levels after exposure to high estrogen. Acute treatment options include 5-HT1B/1D agonists (triptans), ergots, NSAIDs, or combination painkillers. Women with frequent or severe menstrual migraine may benefit from perimenstrual prophylaxis (prevention around the period).
What it means for you
If your migraines get worse around your period, this is likely linked to hormone changes. The same treatments for other migraines can help, and you may benefit from taking preventive medicine around the time you expect an attack. Main limit: this is a review of existing knowledge, not new research data.
About the study
- Original title
- Menstrual migraine: a review of hormonal causes, prophylaxis and treatment
- Authors
- Ashkenazi A, Silberstein S
- Journal
- Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy
- Year
- 2007
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- Not an intervention study; review of treatment options
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1517/14656566.8.11.1605
Topics
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