Non-randomised trial, 2010
Are migraine attacks during the menstrual period worse than at other times?
Yes, migraine attacks during the menstrual period are more disabling, last longer, and are more likely to return within 24 hours compared to attacks at other times.
What they did
153 women with regular menstrual cycles and frequent menstrual migraines were tracked for 1 month during usual migraine treatment at 21 US medical practices. Researchers compared migraine symptoms that occurred during the menstrual window (2 days before to 3 days after period start) to migraines at other times of the month.
What they found
Women reported 212 menstrual and 146 nonmenstrual migraine episodes. Menstrual episodes were 1.65 times more likely to cause functional impairment, lasted 1.68 times longer, and were 2.66 times more likely to return within 24 hours compared to nonmenstrual episodes.
What it means for you
Menstrual migraines appear to be a distinct and more severe type of migraine. However, this was an open-label study where everyone knew they were being tracked, which could have affected results. The findings may not apply to all women with migraines, only those with frequent menstrual migraines.
153
Women tracked for 1 month
1.65
Times more likely to cause impairment
2.66
Times more likely to relapse within 24 hours
About the study
- Original title
- Characteristics of menstrual vs nonmenstrual migraine: a post hoc, within-woman analysis of the usual-care phase of a nonrandomized menstrual migraine clinical trial
- Authors
- MacGregor EA, Victor TW, Hu X et al.
- Journal
- Headache
- Year
- 2010
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- Participants
- 153
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-4610.2010.01625.x
Topics
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