Survey study, 2008
Can a simple checklist help identify menstrual migraine?
Yes. A 3-question tool works well at identifying menstrual migraine in women at gynecology clinics.
What they did
Researchers developed a 3-question screening tool by testing questions at a headache clinic, then validated it in gynecology clinics with women who were not pregnant or menopausal.
What they found
Among women tested: 12.1% had migraine exclusively related to their period (from 2 days before through the 3rd day of menstruation), 10.1% had migraine related to their period and also at other times, and 14.1% had migraine unrelated to their period. When women answered yes to the first question and at least one other question, the tool worked well at identifying menstrual migraine.
What it means for you
This simple 3-question checklist could help gynecologists quickly find women with menstrual migraine. The main limit is that it was tested only in gynecology clinics, so we don't know how well it would work in other settings.
12.1%
had migraine only during their period
10.1%
had migraine during period and other times
14.1%
had migraine unrelated to their period
About the study
- Original title
- Development of a simple menstrual migraine screening tool for obstetric and gynecology clinics: the menstrual migraine assessment tool
- Authors
- Tepper SJ, Zatochill M, Szeto M et al.
- Journal
- Headache
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 250
- What was tested
- A 3-question menstrual migraine screening tool
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-4610.2008.01304.x
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