Migraine attack during periods

Studies conducted by The National Migraine Center shows that migraine is most likely to occur in the two days leading up to a period and the first three days of a period. Menstrual attacks are typically more severe, last longer, and are more likely to recur the next day than non-menstrual attacks. This means that many women who find that their migraine treatment works well most of the time may still have a problem with managing their menstrual attacks. Characteristically these attacks are without aura.

The report have shown that migraine maybe triggered by the drop in oestrogen levels, such as naturally occurs around menstruation. Oestrogen withdrawal also triggers migraine in other situations such as the pill-free interval of combined oral contraceptives.

Migraine typically worsens as you get closer to the menopause (the so-called peri-menopause) partly because periods come more often and partly because the normal hormone cycle becomes disrupted. The good news is that once periods stop and the hormones settle down, migraine improves.

If diary cards confirm that your attacks always occur two or three days around the first day of your period, your doctor might consider ways to prevent migraine.