--- title: Do women who get migraines during their period have more PMS symptoms? description: No. Women with menstrual migraine reported the same number of PMS symptoms as those without it. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/symptoms-of-premenstrual-syndrome-in-female-migraineurs-with-and-without-2018/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women who get migraines during their period have more PMS symptoms? Survey study, 2018 # Do women who get migraines during their period have more PMS symptoms? No. Women with menstrual migraine reported the same number of PMS symptoms as those without it. Early or limited evidence 126 female migraineurs from the general population, 78 with menstrual migraine and 48 without ## What they did Researchers invited 237 women from the general population who reported migraines during their periods to interviews with a neurologist. They answered 11 questions about PMS symptoms and completed two migraine disability questionnaires. ## What they found Among 126 women with migraine, 78 had menstrual migraine and 48 did not. PMS symptoms were reported equally in both groups (5.4 symptoms versus 5.9, p = 0.84). Women with menstrual migraine had more migraine days per month and longer attacks, but similar disability scores. ## What it means for you Menstrual migraine and PMS are linked to hormones but appear to be separate problems, not necessarily occurring together. The finding contradicts some earlier thinking about these conditions. 126 women with migraine studied 5.4 vs 5.9 average PMS symptoms (no difference) p = 0.84 not statistically significant ## About the study Original title Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome in female migraineurs with and without menstrual migraine Authors Vetvik KG, MacGregor EA, Lundqvist C et al. Journal The journal of headache and pain Year 2018 Study design Survey study Participants 237 What was tested None. Observational study. Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1186/s10194-018-0931-6](https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-018-0931-6) Original abstract Background: Menstrual migraine (MM) and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) are two conditions linked to specific phases of the menstrual cycle. The exact pathophysiological mechanisms are not fully understood, but both conditions are hypothesized to be triggered by female sex hormones. Co-occurrence of MM and PMS is controversial. The objective of this population-based study was to compare self-assessed symptoms of PMS in female migraineurs with and without MM. A total of 237 women from the general population who self-reported migraine in at least50% of their menstruations in a screening questionnaire were invited to a clinical interview and diagnosed by a neurologist according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders II (ICHD II), including the appendix criteria for MM. All women were asked to complete a self-administered form containing 11 questions about PMS-symptoms adapted from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The number of PMS symptoms was compared among migraineurs with and without MM. In addition, each participant completed the Headache Impact test (HIT-6) and Migraine Disability Assessment Score (MIDAS). Findings: A total of 193 women returned a complete PMS questionnaire, of which 67 women were excluded from the analyses due to current use of hormonal contraception (n = 61) or because they did not fulfil the ICHD-criteria for migraine (n = 6). Among the remaining 126 migraineurs, 78 had MM and 48 non-menstrually related migraine. PMS symptoms were equally frequent in migraineurs with and without MM (5.4 vs. 5.9, p = 0.84). Women with MM reported more migraine days/month, longer lasting migraine attacks and higher HIT-6 scores than those without MM, but MIDAS scores were similar. Conclusion: We did not find any difference in number of self-reported PMS-symptoms between migraineurs with and without MM. 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/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Migraine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-migraine/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/) 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? Randomised trial, 2023 Does drospirenone birth control help PMS symptoms? Survey study, 2021 Are migraines around the period worse than migraines at other times? Review, 2019 How does the menstrual cycle affect migraine in women? Review, 2013 What causes migraines linked to your period and how can they be treated? Randomised trial, 2013 Is frovatriptan better than other triptans for migraines caused by birth control? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗