Study, 1975
What causes estrogen-withdrawal migraine and can estrogen supplements prevent it?
Migraine happens when estrogen levels drop after being high for several days. Estrogen supplements taken before the period did not prevent menstrual migraines.
What they did
Researchers gave 4 women a long-acting form of estradiol and 2 women a short-acting form. They also tested whether giving estrogen supplements during the premenstrual phase could prevent migraine in 4 women.
What they found
Several days of high estrogen levels were needed to trigger migraine when estrogen was withdrawn. Estrogen supplements during the premenstrual phase did not meaningfully increase estradiol levels in the blood and did not prevent menstrual migraine.
What it means for you
The way estrogen changes rather than the absolute level may trigger migraine in some women. Estrogen supplements taken before the period do not seem to prevent menstrual migraine, probably because they do not raise blood estrogen levels enough. This was a very small study.
4
women with long-acting estradiol
2
women with short-acting estradiol
About the study
- Original title
- Estrogen-withdrawal migraine. I. Duration of exposure required and attempted prophylaxis by premenstrual estrogen administration
- Authors
- Somerville BW
- Journal
- Neurology
- Year
- 1975
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- Long-acting or short-acting estradiol; estrogen supplements before the period
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1212/wnl.25.3.239
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