Menstrual Migraines: Its Nature
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Defined Tag: Migraine Headache.

  
Medical reports indicate that women are three times more likely to suffer migraines than men.  About two out of ten women of childbearing age experience hormone-induced headaches such as menstrual migraine or PMS headache. Approximately 70% of these women suffer from menstrual migraine.

Migraine symptoms are different for each person, but the general descriptions include -

* Severe headache
* Feeing sick
* Being sick
* Photophobia or sensitivity to light

For some people, migraine seems to occur for no apparent reason while with others, there needs to be triggers or factors that precipitate the attack. If you too suffer from migraine, you'll be able to identify your personal headache triggers over time.  Once you do, you will be able to avoid those trigger factors and spare yourself of having to endure another migraine episode.

With menstrual migraines, the trigger has been identified to be the drop in the level of estrogen. Actually, it is not the low hormone level that serves as the underlying cause of the headache. Rather, it is the sudden change in estrogen level that sets it off. Estrogen level drops right before the start of your periodic flow.

Types of Menstrual Migraine

Menstrual migraine is characterized by headaches that start two or three days before your period and may last for the duration of your flow.

Two patterns have been observed to be related to menstrual migraine:

* Menstrual Associated Migraine is reported to be the most common migraine type. It affects 60% of women migraine sufferers. Normal occurrences are before and after menstruation and other times of the month.

* Pure Menstrual Migraine is experienced by 14% of women migraine sufferers. Its attack happens only during the monthly flow.

How to Identify Menstrual Migraine

Sometimes, it is only a case of your migraine attack coinciding with your monthly period.  You might have to consult your doctor for diagnosis in which case, he may ask you to observe and record the occurrence of your migraines over a period of several months. This will enable him to read the pattern and relationship if there is any, of your menstrual periods and migraine episodes.

Treating Menstrual Migraines

Menstrual migraines can be treated with the use of painkillers and drugs that prevent nausea, vomiting, and other anti-inflammatory agents that are normally taken to combat other types of migraine.

Preventive Treatment

Menstrual migraines can be an impediment and disabling to some women, preventing them from working or participating in leisurely pursuits and a host of other activities each month. As these women seek treatment, they are also exploring other means to actually preclude the occurrence of menstrual migraines.

Considering that the trigger factor for menstrual migraines is the abrupt change in the levels of estrogen, a solution is to supplement the hormone itself using hormone replacement therapy. For this purpose, an estrogen patch can be used, patched onto the skin three days before menstruation is expected. The patch is kept onto the skin for seven days. If you do not like to use estrogen patches, you can opt for estrogen gel instead. Apply the estrogen gel onto your skin everyday for one week.

Contraceptive Pills

The combined oral contraceptive pill is a combination of estrogen and a progestin. Other than inhibiting fertility, it can also be used for migraine control. However, it is best to consult your doctor if you intend to go through this type of treatment in order to avoid complications such as unwanted pregnancy.

* Using the "Pill" as preventive treatment for menstrual migraine works by preventing the monthly flow itself. This is possible by switching to a contraceptive containing lower progestogen .

* Since the pills are packed for 21 days or three weeks per month, the treatment requires taking them for nine consecutive weeks or three packets in a row.  Thereafter, allow a break of seven days where you do not take any pill. This approach will stabilize your estrogen level and result in less bleeding and infrequent migraines. If you experience any headache during the break period of seven days, you can take supplemental estrogen to maintain your hormone level.

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