---
title: Do non-migraine headaches change across the menstrual cycle in women with PMS?
description: Yes. Women with PMS have significantly more non-migraine headaches during the perimenstrual phase (around their period) and more severe headaches than women w
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/non-migraine-headache-across-the-menstrual-cycle-in-women-with-and-without-1992/
---

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- Do non-migraine headaches change across the menstrual cycle in women with PMS?

Case-control study, 1992

# Do non-migraine headaches change across the menstrual cycle in women with PMS?

Yes. Women with PMS have significantly more non-migraine headaches during the perimenstrual phase (around their period) and more severe headaches than women without PMS.

 Moderate study design

53 women tracked daily; 46 analyzed without migraine (26 with PMS, 20 without)

## What they did

53 women recorded headaches daily for about 3 menstrual cycles. 46 had no migraine; of these, 26 had PMS and 20 didn't.

## What they found

Non-migraine headaches were significantly more common during the perimenstrual phase (p < 0.001). PMS women had more severe headaches in both perimenstrual and intermenstrual phases. Severe headaches peaked on day before menstruation in PMS women and on day 1 in non-PMS women. Mild headaches were similar between groups.

## What it means for you

Women with PMS get more and worse non-migraine headaches around their period, especially before it starts. The study only included women without migraine and tracked 3 cycles.

53

women tracked

26

with PMS

p < 0.001

cycle-headache relationship

## About the study

Original title Non-migraine headache across the menstrual cycle in women with and without premenstrual syndrome Authors Keenan PA, Lindamer LA Journal Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache Year 1992 Study design Case-control study Participants 26 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2982.1992.00356.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2982.1992.00356.x)

## Topics

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

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