Menstrual Migraine Facts

Menstrual migraines are provoked by hormonal fluctuations in women before, during, and after their periods. These headaches cause symptoms of nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and irritability that can adversely affect daily activities, work, and family care. The pain of menstrual migraines can be alleviated with prescription medications, over-the-counter remedies, and homeopathic treatments; however there is no cure to eliminate the recurrence of menstrual migraines.

Significance

• Menstrual migraines typically occur throughout a woman's reproductive years due to hormonal fluctuations that occur during ovulation to release an egg for potential fertilization. The female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone rise and fall at different times, creating hormonal imbalances in women that can result in severe, long-lasting migraines that cause throbbing or pulsing pain.

Time Frame

• Symptoms of an impending migraine begin 24 hours prior to the onset and can include: food cravings, mood swings, yawning, frequent urination, changes in vision, aura, disorientation, and a headache. As the headache intensifies into a migraine, nausea, vomiting, and changes in appetite may coincide. A menstrual migraine can occur before, during, or after the menstrual cycle, and can be agitated by an array of triggers including; stress, emotionality, food, and poor sleeping habits. Pre-Menstrual migraines that occur within a couple days before a woman's period may be brought on by decreasing levels of estrogen and progesterone, as this is the time when hormone levels are at their lowest.

Types

• Abdominal migraines that begin in childhood may lead to lifelong migraines, particularly for women with a family history of migraines. Basilar migraines occur during puberty, as the female sex hormones begin to develop an adolescent body toward sexual maturity and the first menstrual cycle. Women who experience basilar migraines throughout the young adult years are more prone to developing menstrual migraines and pregnancy migraines in adulthood.

Function

• Menstrual migraines can be more frequent in women who take birth control pills, as high levels of estrogen plummet during the week of menstruation when women take sugar or iron pills. Perimenopause and menopause migraines may occur even in women without a history of migraines, due to extreme changes in estrogen levels. In addition, symptoms associated with the change including: depression, anxiety, hot flashes, and nausea can cause insomnia, discomfort, and stress which may trigger or increase the severity of a tension headache or migraine.

Prevention/Solution

• Understanding triggers helps in the prevention of menstrual migraines. Allergens, stress, food, and medication can set off or worsen the effects of a migraine. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory treatments taken at the first sign of a potential migraine help to relieve and reverse symptoms. Migraine sufferers should avoid processed foods and products containing artificial sweeteners, MSG, alcohol, and caffeine. Calming therapies provided by yoga, acupuncture, and massage may help to reduce tension and stress. Women experiencing chronic and severe menstrual migraines that occur throughout the month should seek professional medical advice from a chiropractor, neurologist or physician, as realignment, prescription medication, or hormone therapy may be needed.