---
title: What treatments work for migraine during the menstrual cycle?
description: Triptans (migraine medicines) work well for stopping menstrual migraines. Medicines like naproxen and estrogen can help prevent migraines that mainly occur du
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/management-of-menstrual-migraine-a-review-of-current-abortive-and-prophylactic-2010/
---

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- What treatments work for migraine during the menstrual cycle?

Survey study, 2010

# What treatments work for migraine during the menstrual cycle?

Triptans (migraine medicines) work well for stopping menstrual migraines. Medicines like naproxen and estrogen can help prevent migraines that mainly occur during the period or are hard to treat with other options.

 Early or limited evidence

Women with migraine related to menstruation (review of existing research)

## What they did

The authors reviewed published research on medicines used to stop and prevent migraines related to the menstrual cycle.

## What they found

After menstruation starts, women have more migraine than men. Migraines happen more often during the menstrual period and are more severe at that time. Triptans work well for stopping menstrual migraine attacks. For preventing migraines that happen mainly during the period or are particularly hard to treat, intermittent preventive medicines including naproxen, estrogens, and triptans can be used and have shown how well they work.

## What it means for you

There are medicines available to both stop menstrual migraines when they happen and try to prevent them during the period. However, this is a review of published research, and how well these work may vary for each person.

## About the study

Original title Management of menstrual migraine: a review of current abortive and prophylactic therapies Authors Sullivan E, Bushnell C Journal Current pain and headache reports Year 2010 Study design Survey study Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/s11916-010-0138-2](https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-010-0138-2)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Diuretics and other drugs](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diuretics-other-drugs/)[Migraine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-migraine/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Randomised trial, 2014

Does the combination of sumatriptan and naproxen sodium reduce menstrual symptoms and migraine?

Randomised trial, 2011

Does sumatriptan-naproxen help women with period migraines and period pain function better?

Randomised trial, 2010

Does a sumatriptan and naproxen combination help menstrual migraine and period pain?

Review, 2009

What medications work for migraines around the menstrual period?

Survey study, 2009

How can menstrual migraines and headaches be treated?

Survey study, 2007

Why does migraine get worse around menstruation and how can it be treated?

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