Study, 2003
Do women with menstrual migraines have different brain responses to flashing lights at different cycle times?
Yes, during the low-hormone phase, women with migraines showed different brain blood flow to flashing lights than control women, but not during the high-hormone phase. This small pilot study needs confirmation.
What they did
This was a pilot study of 10 women tested at two points in their menstrual cycle. Five women had menstrual migraines, and five did not. Researchers measured blood flow in the vision area of the brain while women looked at flashing lights. Testing happened at the late luteal phase (high hormone levels) and the mid-follicular phase (low hormone levels).
What they found
During the high-hormone phase, both groups had similar blood flow changes in the vision area during flashing lights. During the low-hormone phase, women with menstrual migraines showed increased blood flow during flashing lights, while women without migraines showed decreased blood flow. At rest, baseline blood flow was the same between groups at both cycle phases.
What it means for you
Women with menstrual migraines may have different brain responses to visual triggers at certain points in their cycle, which could explain why some women get migraines during specific cycle phases. The sample was very small (5 women per group), so findings need confirmation in larger studies.
5
Women with menstrual migraine
5
Control women
2
Menstrual cycle phases tested
About the study
- Original title
- Perfusion changes with photic stimulation during two phases of the menstrual cycle: a pilot study comparing controls and true menstrual migraine patients
- Authors
- Ances BM, Detre JA
- Journal
- Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache
- Year
- 2003
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 5
- What was tested
- Flashing lights presented during two menstrual cycle phases
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1046/j.1468-2982.2003.00625.x
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