---
title: Are migraine headaches and PMS linked in medical students? | Niyora
description: Yes. About 80% of women with PMS had headaches, and about 81.5% had migraines. Women with PMS had a 70% higher risk of menstrual migraine than women without P
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/prevalencia-de-sindrome-pre-menstrual-e-migranea-em-estudantes-de-medicina-2021/
---

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- Are migraine headaches and PMS linked in medical students?

Survey study, 2021

# Are migraine headaches and PMS linked in medical students?

Yes. About 80% of women with PMS had headaches, and about 81.5% had migraines. Women with PMS had a 70% higher risk of menstrual migraine than women without PMS.

 Early or limited evidence

189 female medical students in Brazil

## What they did

A survey of 189 female medical students asked about PMS symptoms and headaches or migraines that occurred with their menstrual cycle. Researchers looked for patterns between the two conditions.

## What they found

41% of the women experienced menstrual migraine. Among women with PMS, 80% reported headaches and 81.5% reported migraines. The risk of menstrual headache was 70% higher in women with PMS (range 39.2% to 116.3%) compared to women without PMS.

## What it means for you

Migraines and PMS often occur together. Hormone changes during the menstrual cycle, especially drops in estrogen, may trigger both conditions. This study only included medical students, mostly using hormonal contraception with normal weight, so results may not apply to all women.

41%

had menstrual migraine

80%

of PMS group had headaches

70%

higher risk of menstrual headache with PMS

## About the study

Original title Prevalência de Síndrome Pré-menstrual e Migrânea em Estudantes de Medicina: distúrbios comórbidos / Prevalence of Premenstrual Syndrome and Migraine in medical students: comorbid disorders Authors Eliana Meire Melhado, Amanda Tanaka Iasbeck Gonçalves, Ana Clara Volpato de Matos et al. Journal Brazilian Journal of Health Review Year 2021 Study design Survey study Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.34119/bjhrv4n3-110](https://doi.org/10.34119/bjhrv4n3-110)

## 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/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)

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