---
title: How do doctors diagnose and treat migraines linked to menstruation?
description: Two case examples show that menstrual migraines are often diagnosed and managed together with other conditions like PMDD or depression. Treatment combines mig
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/menstrual-migraine-case-studies-of-women-with-estrogen-related-headaches-2008/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- How do doctors diagnose and treat migraines linked to menstruation?

Case report, 2008

# How do doctors diagnose and treat migraines linked to menstruation?

Two case examples show that menstrual migraines are often diagnosed and managed together with other conditions like PMDD or depression. Treatment combines migraine prevention medication, management of mood disorders, and acute migraine treatments.

 Early or limited evidence

Two women (one age 35) with migraines linked to menstruation

## What they did

Described two women with migraines linked to their menstrual cycle. The first (age 35) gets migraines almost exclusively during menstruation and has PMDD. The second has frequent disabling migraines plus work-related anxiety and depression. For each woman, doctors worked out a diagnosis and detailed treatment plan.

## What they found

Both cases showed how menstrual migraines can be managed with a combined approach: migraine miniprophylaxis (prevention medication), treatment of PMDD or anxiety/depression, and acute migraine medications as needed.

## What it means for you

Menstrual migraines often happen together with other conditions like PMDD, anxiety, or depression, which makes them harder to manage. Doctors need to treat all the conditions together. The main limit is that these are just 2 case descriptions, not a study of many women.

2

case scenarios

35

age of first woman

## About the study

Original title Menstrual migraine: case studies of women with estrogen-related headaches Authors Hutchinson SL, Silberstein SD Journal Headache Year 2008 Study design Case report What was tested Migraine miniprophylaxis, management of PMDD or mood disorders, and acute migraine medications Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-4610.2008.01311.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-4610.2008.01311.x)

## Topics

[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/)[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

Study, 2026

What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder?

Review, 2014

Are mental health problems linked to gynecological conditions like PMS and PMDD?

Non-randomised trial, 2008

Can the Sheehan Disability Scale measure whether treatments work?

Review, 2004

How should doctors diagnose and treat PMS and PMDD?

Study, 2026

Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition?

Cohort study, 2012

How quickly does fluoxetine start working for PMDD symptoms?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗