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Pain and headache: what the research says

629 studies on pain and headache in PMS and PMDD, each explained in plain English. 35 of them use the strongest designs: randomised trials and systematic reviews.

Survey study 280Randomised trial 101Study 63Cohort study 49Review 40Non-randomised trial 30
Randomised trial, 2026

Does Kundalini Reiki help reduce PMS symptoms and improve quality of life?

Yes, according to this rigorous double-blind study. Nursing students receiving Kundalini Reiki showed significantly greater improvements in PMS symptoms and quality of life compared to those who received placebo.

Randomised trial, 2026

Does a warm footbath help PMS symptoms and sleep quality?

A nightly warm footbath during the premenstrual phase reduced PMS symptoms and improved quality of life in women with PMS. It did not improve sleep quality.

Randomised trial, 2026

Does yoga reduce PMS symptoms?

Yes, yoga significantly reduced PMS severity, pain, and improved blood markers while the control group showed no changes.

Randomised trial, 2025

Do vitamin D and E supplements reduce menstrual pain and PMS symptoms?

Yes, vitamin D and E supplements significantly reduced menstrual pain and PMS symptoms over 4 months, especially in women with low vitamin D levels.

Systematic review, 2025

Does digital healthcare help manage period pain and PMS?

Yes, digital apps and websites effectively reduced period pain and improved symptom management for PMS, according to a review of 8 studies.

Cohort study, 2025

Do women with PMS or PMDD report lower quality of life than women without these conditions?

Yes. Women with PMS or PMDD reported significantly lower quality of life, particularly those with PMDD. These findings held even after accounting for mood and pain.

Cohort study, 2025

How common is PMS in Chinese teenage girls, and what factors are linked to it?

About 1 in 4 Chinese girls (24.6%) has PMS. Higher stress, anger, alcohol use, menstrual cycles of 24 days or less, and period pain are all linked to increased PMS likelihood.

Systematic review, 2025

Does teaching adolescent girls about their menstrual cycle and health help reduce period pain and PMS?

Yes. A systematic review of five good-quality studies shows that psychoeducation (structured teaching) significantly reduced period pain and PMS symptoms and improved emotional wellbeing in adolescent girls.

Systematic review, 2025

Do progestins reduce pain from endometriosis, fibroids, and PMS?

Progestins significantly reduced pain in 18 of 19 endometriosis studies and in both fibroid studies. However, no studies examined PMS pain, so there is no evidence for PMS.

Cohort study, 2024

Does psychological distress in adolescence predict menstrual symptoms in adulthood?

Yes. Women who had higher psychological distress at age 16 were significantly more likely to experience various menstrual symptoms at ages 16, 30, and 42. This is based on a large, long-term study.

Randomised trial, 2024

Does estetrol/drospirenone birth control improve PMS symptoms?

Yes. Women who started this birth control experienced significant improvements in pain, bloating, and negative mood symptoms. Women already on other birth control saw minimal improvements.

Cohort study, 2024

Is there a link between sleep and menstrual problems in teenage girls?

Yes. Girls who sleep less and have more sleep problems report worse menstrual pain, irregular periods, and more premenstrual symptoms.

Systematic review, 2024

Does exercise and physiotherapy help reduce PMS symptoms?

Yes. Physiotherapy significantly reduced depression in women with PMS and also reduced pain. It improves overall quality of life.

Systematic review, 2023

What hormonal treatments have been tested for PMDD, menstrual migraine, and catamenial epilepsy?

Hormonal treatments have been tested 56 times for premenstrual mood disorder, 21 times for menstrual migraine, and 8 times for catamenial epilepsy. Combined oral contraceptives were a frequent focus.

Systematic review, 2023

Does saffron help with PMS, labor pain, and menopause symptoms?

Yes, saffron improves mood and reduces psychological symptoms of PMS and menopause, and helps reduce labor pain and recovery time, though limited studies exist.

Randomised trial, 2023

Does zinc supplementation reduce PMS symptoms in women?

Yes. Daily zinc supplementation for 24 weeks significantly reduced multiple PMS symptoms including anger, anxiety, depressed mood, and physical symptoms like breast tenderness and bloating compared to placebo.

Cohort study, 2022

Can women accurately tell if they have period-related migraines, or do they need to track them?

No. Women couldn't accurately tell if they had period migraines. Most needed to keep a daily headache diary for several cycles for accurate diagnosis.

Systematic review, 2021

Does damask rose help reduce menstrual pain, headache, fatigue, anxiety, and bloating?

Damask rose significantly reduced menstrual-related headache, fatigue, and bloating, but did not clearly reduce menstrual pain or anxiety. More research on pain and anxiety is needed.

Guideline, 2021

How should migraine be managed in women, particularly menstrual migraine?

This guideline covers migraine treatment approaches, noting that menstrual migraine, pregnancy, contraception, and hormone therapy are specific considerations. The abstract does not provide specific treatment details for menstrual migraine.

Systematic review, 2020

Does Vitex agnus-castus help cyclic breast pain?

Vitex appears moderately effective for reducing cyclic breast pain compared to placebo, works as well as some medications, and is safe with minimal side effects.

Review, 2017

Can combining different types of treatments help PMS more than using one approach alone?

Yes. An integrative approach combining medicines, supplements, mind-body techniques, acupuncture, and lifestyle changes can effectively address PMS.

Randomised trial, 2016

Does telcagepant prevent migraines during the menstrual period?

Telcagepant did not reduce overall monthly migraine days. However, it did reduce headaches on the days it was taken around the period. It was generally safe.

Randomised trial, 2015

Which birth control pill better reduces PMS and menstrual symptoms: nomegestrol acetate or drospirenone?

Nomegestrol acetate reduced more PMS and menstrual symptoms than drospirenone pills in this large study of 3522 women, though drospirenone was better for emotional arousal.

Review, 2015

Do hormonal contraceptives have benefits beyond preventing pregnancy?

Yes. Combined oral contraceptives can reduce heavy periods, anemia, and PMDD symptoms. Several other contraceptive methods also offer additional health benefits.

Randomised trial, 2014

Does the combination of sumatriptan and naproxen sodium reduce menstrual symptoms and migraine?

Yes. The combination was better than placebo for tiredness, irritability, bloating, abdominal pain, and back pain, as well as migraine. However, women with severe period pain responded less well to migraine treatment.

Case-control study, 2014

How common is severe period pain and what causes it?

Period pain affects 16% to 91% of women of reproductive age, with severe pain in 2% to 29%. It's less common as women age, after having children, and when using birth control pills, but more common with stress or family history of it.

Survey study, 2011

What premenstrual symptoms do women experience around the world and how much do they affect daily life?

The most common symptoms are abdominal bloating, cramps, irritability, breast tenderness, and muscle or back pain. Physical and mental symptoms have similar effects on daily activities.

Systematic review, 2010

Does acupuncture treat premenstrual syndrome?

Evidence for acupuncture treating PMS is limited and understudied. Most evidence focuses on period pain and menopause, but all evidence has quality problems.

Randomised trial, 2006

Does toremifene reduce premenstrual breast pain?

Yes. Toremifene reduced pain significantly more than placebo, with a 64% reduction in pain compared to 26% with placebo.

Randomised trial, 2005

Does sumatriptan work for migraines around the menstrual cycle?

Yes, sumatriptan 100 mg gave headache relief to 67% of women for migraines during their menstrual window compared to 33% on placebo. Sumatriptan was well tolerated.

Randomised trial, 2005

Are triptans effective for menstrual migraine?

Yes. Triptans are effective for treating menstrual migraine both as a treatment taken when a migraine starts and as prevention taken regularly to stop migraines before they happen.

Systematic review, 1998

Do stomach and intestinal symptoms change during the menstrual cycle?

Yes. About one-third of women without usual gut problems get gut symptoms around their period. Almost half of women with irritable bowel syndrome report their symptoms get worse perimenstrually.

Randomised trial, 1997

Does tamoxifen or danazol help severe cyclical breast pain?

Yes. Both drugs reduced pain more than placebo during treatment, but tamoxifen was more effective and longer-lasting, with 53% still symptom-free 12 months after stopping.

Randomised trial, 1997

Does Vitex agnus castus work better than vitamin B6 for premenstrual tension syndrome?

Both reduced symptoms by similar amounts (47-48%), but more women on Vitex reported excellent results and had no remaining complaints, suggesting Vitex may work better for PMTS.

Survey study, 1994

How many different ways do researchers measure PMS in clinical trials?

Researchers use many different measurement tools across studies. 65 different questionnaires were found in 350 trials of PMS drugs, making it hard to compare whether treatments actually work.

Systematic review, 2026

Does exercise help with mood problems, pain, and fatigue in women with PMS?

Yes. Exercise including running, yoga, and Pilates significantly reduces negative mood, pain, and fatigue in women with PMS. Running for 9-12 weeks at 3 or more sessions per week works best for mood. Yoga for 9-12 weeks at 3 or more sessions per week works best for pain and fatigue.

Survey study, 2026

Are menstrual characteristics linked to depression and anxiety in teenage girls?

Yes. Girls with earlier periods, irregular cycles, long cycles, severe period pain, and worse premenstrual symptoms have higher depression and anxiety scores, and these links get stronger as girls get older.

Survey study, 2026

How does sleep change across the menstrual cycle in women with psychiatric conditions and suicidal thinking?

Sleep varies across the menstrual cycle in women with psychiatric conditions. These patterns align with changes in mood and suicidal thinking, with some women having worse sleep around their period or in the luteal phase. This suggests sleep monitoring may help identify higher-risk periods.

Survey study, 2026

Does COVID-19 infection or depression affect menstrual periods?

Yes, clearly. Both COVID-19 infection and moderate to severe depression were linked to menstrual changes. About 38% of the female students experienced menstrual dysfunction.

Lab study, 2026

Do core stability exercises help women with PMDD?

Yes. After 8 weeks of core stability exercises, women with PMDD had reduced pain and improved ability to do daily activities.

Randomised trial, 2026

Does polarized light therapy reduce low back pain in women with PMS?

Yes. Women with PMS who received polarized light therapy in addition to standard treatment had significantly greater reductions in back pain and improvement in function than those receiving standard treatment alone.

Randomised trial, 2026

Does education about PMS symptoms help reduce pain and stress?

Yes. Women who received education about PMS symptoms had lower pain and stress levels than the control group, especially if their symptoms were more severe to begin with.

Non-randomised trial, 2026

Does video-guided digital menstrual exercise reduce PMS and period pain in adolescent girls?

Yes. The exercise group was much more likely to have no PMS symptoms (74.3%) and no period pain (34.3%) compared to the control group.

Study, 2026

Does rimegepant help prevent migraines that happen around your period?

Yes, in this study rimegepant worked well. Women who took it around their period had fewer, shorter, and less severe migraines, and their quality of life improved. However, this was a small study without a comparison group.

Randomised trial, 2026

Does transcranial direct current stimulation reduce menstrual pain and PMS mood symptoms?

The main finding showed no significant difference between active and sham stimulation for menstrual pain. Both groups improved over time. Exploratory analyses suggested mood and quality of life benefits, but this needs confirmation.

Survey study, 2026

How does menstrual health affect your quality of life?

Menstrual health significantly affects quality of life. Women with frequent premenstrual symptoms, menstrual pain, and difficulty affording menstrual products reported lower quality of life, especially in daily activities, mood, and pain.

Case-control study, 2026

How do thinking, mood, and work change across the cycle in women with and without period pain?

Women with period pain experienced challenges in mood, work performance, and self-esteem that extended beyond the pain itself. Thinking and memory skills did not show clear differences between women with and without period pain.

Study, 2026

What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder?

Between 5% and 8% of women have moderate-to-severe symptoms that cause significant problems with work, relationships, and daily life. These are called PMS or PMDD. PMDD is the most severe form.

Survey study, 2026

Do female medical students living in hostels have worse PMS than those who commute?

Yes. Students living in hostels had significantly worse PMS symptoms overall, especially anxiety, mood swings, social withdrawal, cramps, and back pain.

Survey study, 2026

What menstrual cycle symptoms do people experience and how much do they interfere with daily life?

Most symptoms cause modest interference with daily life, but distress is highest during menstruation. Pain and discomfort are the strongest predictors of difficulty with daily activities.

Randomised trial, 2026

Do pelvic floor exercises combined with Pilates help PMS symptoms?

Both Pilates alone and Pilates plus pelvic floor exercises significantly improved PMS, pain, sleep quality, and overall quality of life. The combination group showed larger improvements, though the difference was not statistically significant, and the study included only 30 women.

Survey study, 2026

How do pain, sleep quality, and appetite change across the menstrual cycle?

Appetite increases significantly before and during the period. Pain can disrupt sleep, especially during menstruation. Single women report much worse sleep and pain during their period than married women do.

Randomised trial, 2026

Is yoga or aerobic exercise better for reducing PMS symptoms in adolescent girls?

Both yoga and aerobic exercise significantly reduced PMS symptoms and pain intensity. Neither was superior to the other, so either could be recommended as an effective non-drug treatment.

Survey study, 2025

Do menstrual problems and poor sleep affect mood and thinking in teenage girls?

Yes. Clear links exist between menstrual pain or PMS symptoms and anxiety, depression, and social problems in adolescent girls. Sleep also matters. Girls with later bedtimes or shorter sleep plus pain had worse mood and thinking problems.

Study, 2025

Do women have different symptom patterns before, during, and after menopause?

Yes. Women have different symptom patterns depending on whether they are before, during, or after menopause. All women experience fatigue, headache, anxiety, and brain fog regardless of life stage.

Survey study, 2025

Can a chatbot help monitor PMS symptoms over time?

Yes. A Telegram chatbot successfully tracked PMS symptoms across multiple menstrual cycles. Some women with PMS also met the criteria for fibromyalgia.

Survey study, 2025

Does menstruation affect how well women perform at work?

Yes. On days when women were menstruating, they reported lower ability to control their emotions and regulate themselves, which led to worse task performance, less helping of colleagues, and more withdrawing from work. Pain made this effect stronger.

Randomised trial, 2025

Does pumpkin seed extract reduce PMS pain?

Yes, pumpkin seed extract at 500 mg twice daily for 10 days significantly reduced PMS pain intensity more than lower doses or placebo.

Randomised trial, 2025

Does electrical stimulation at acupuncture points reduce PMS symptoms?

Yes, based on a small study. Women who received electrical stimulation at real acupuncture points improved significantly more than those receiving sham treatment.

Randomised trial, 2025

Does video-based Pilates exercise reduce PMS symptoms, stress, and pain?

Pilates exercise significantly reduced stress and pain severity. However, when comparing the two groups, the overall PMS symptom improvement was not statistically different.