---
title: Does keeping steady oestradiol levels prevent menstrual migraines?
description: Yes. When oestradiol levels were kept steady with implants, 20 out of 24 women (83%) became completely or almost completely headache-free, with no problems as
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/treatment-of-menstrual-migraine-by-oestradiol-implants-1983/
---

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- Does keeping steady oestradiol levels prevent menstrual migraines?

Study, 1983

# Does keeping steady oestradiol levels prevent menstrual migraines?

Yes. When oestradiol levels were kept steady with implants, 20 out of 24 women (83%) became completely or almost completely headache-free, with no problems associated with the treatment.

 Early or limited evidence

24 women with menstrual migraine

## What they did

The study treated 24 women with menstrual migraine using oestradiol implants placed under the skin to keep hormone levels constant. They were given cyclical oral progestogens to maintain regular monthly periods.

## What they found

Twenty-three women improved overall. Twenty (83%) became completely or almost completely headache-free. The treatment caused no problems.

## What it means for you

The drop in oestrogen during the menstrual cycle appears to trigger menstrual migraines. Keeping oestrogen levels steady can prevent these attacks. The main limits are the small sample size and lack of comparison to other migraine treatments.

24

women treated

20

became headache-free

83%

headache-free rate

## About the study

Original title Treatment of menstrual migraine by oestradiol implants Authors Magos AL, Zilkha KJ, Studd JW Journal Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry Year 1983 Study design Study Participants 24 What was tested Oestradiol implants to keep hormone levels steady Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.46.11.1044](https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.46.11.1044)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Estradiol, progesterone and hormone therapy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormone-therapy/)[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.

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