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Study, 1986

Do women with menstrually-related migraine have different hormone levels than women with epilepsy?

Yes, women with menstrually-related migraine had lower progesterone and estradiol levels than women with epilepsy. Their endorphin levels near menstruation showed a different pattern than the epilepsy group.

Early or limited evidence 8 women with menstrually-related migraine and 3 women with catamenial epilepsy

What they did

Researchers measured four hormones and chemicals in the blood during the second half of the menstrual cycle of 8 women with menstrually-related migraine and 3 women with catamenial epilepsy.

What they found

Women with menstrually-related migraine had lower progesterone and estradiol than women with epilepsy. Endorphin-related chemicals fell near menstruation in the migraine group, but rose in the epilepsy group.

What it means for you

Different menstrual conditions might involve different hormone patterns in the body. This was very small research (only 8 to 11 women total), so more studies are needed. The study focused on migraine and epilepsy, not premenstrual syndrome specifically.

8

women with menstrually-related migraine

3

women with catamenial epilepsy

About the study

Original title
Pattern of plasma opioids in menstrually-related migraine and epilepsy
Authors
Facchinetti F, Moglia A, Bonuccelli U et al.
Journal
Functional neurology
Year
1986
Study design
Study
Participants
8
What was tested
None—this was an observational study measuring hormone and chemical levels.

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