Menstrual Migraine

What Is a Menstrual Migraine?

A menstrual migraine is a severe headache that occurs at the same time as your menstrual cycle, usually soon before, during or after menstruation. These severe headaches majorly affect everyday activities, pointing out the importance of good menstrual migraine treatment.

Menstrual migraines differ from typical migraines because they’re directly associated with the menstrual cycle. They’re usually more severe, caused by hormonal fluctuations that occur during the menstrual cycle. Regular migraines can happen at any time and aren’t always related to hormonal changes.

Neurologists have specialized knowledge and experience in migraine diagnosis and menstrual migraines treatment. Dr. Mark Cohen, who works at Neuro Injury Specialist in NYC, is your best option for menstrual migraine relief.

At these New York and New Jersey clinics, you can find a wealth of experience treating other headache conditions, such as:

• Chronic headaches
• Tension headaches
• Allergy headache
• Sinus headaches
• Cervicogenic headache

What Are the Signs of a Menstrual Migraine?

The symptoms of a menstrual migraine overlap with those of other types of migraines. It’s best to consult with a doctor who has experience.

Symptoms vary from person to person, but common symptoms include:

• Throbbing headache
• Light sensitivity called photophobia
• Sound sensitivity known as phonophobia
• Vomiting or nausea
• Seeing auras, which appear as a visual disturbance like flashing lights or blind patches
• Symptoms that worsen during menstruation or around the menstrual cycle
• Pain that worsens with physical activity
• Tiredness or lethargy

Identifying triggers and using efficient treatment methods reduce the severity of menstrual migraines and enhance overall well-being.

Menstrual migraine triggers for you may include:

• Hormonal changes, particularly changes in estrogen and progesterone
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), connected to stress and emotional factors
• Disrupted sleep patterns
• Weather and barometric pressure changes
• Smell sensitivity or aversion to strong scent
• Increased physical activity
• Use of hormonal contraception or hormone replacement therapy

How Can Hormonal Changes Cause Menstrual Migraine?

Hormonal changes, notably those in estrogen and progesterone levels, likely play a role in the onset of menstrual migraines. While the exact mechanism is unknown, such changes can impair nervous system sensitivity, neurotransmitter balance and blood vessel dilatation, all of which contribute to the development of severe migraines.

They affect you in different ways, such as:

• Estrogen fluctuations, which often entail a rapid drop in estrogen before menstruation, triggering blood vessel alterations and leading to migraines
• Progesterone changes, involving sudden reductions in progesterone levels that increase your nervous system’s sensitivity to pain
• Trigeminal nerve sensitivity, caused by hormonal changes that affect the trigeminal nerve’s sensitivity to triggers, leading to a major pain pathway in the head and trigeminal neuralgia
• Serotonin fluctuations, since serotonin affects mood and pain perception, fluctuations may lead to menstrual migraines

Despite the fact that hormonal changes are a major cause of menstrual migraines, other factors might cause them to arise as well. Keeping a diary to note patterns and potential causes can aid in recognizing and taking care of these issues.

Other common causes may include:

• A high level of stress can increase the incidence of menstrual migraines.
• Certain meals, such as processed foods, aged cheese and foods containing additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG), provoke menstrual migraines in some women.
• Medication overuse. Excessive use of pain relievers often leads to rebound headaches, which exacerbate menstrual migraines.

How Can I Manage My Menstrual Migraine?

To manage your symptoms, consult a neurologist who has vast experience. The effectiveness of menstrual migraines treatment depends mostly on the doctor and your willingness to follow his advice as closely as possible. Treatment for menstrual migraines involves a mix of preventive and acute care techniques.

Common treatment approaches include:

• Getting regular sleep
• Managing stress
• Exercising
• Avoiding processed foods, aged cheese and anything containing MSG
• Stabilizing hormone levels with birth control
• Using over the counter or prescription pain medicines, such as triptans
• Taking beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers or antidepressants
• Finding menstrual migraine relief through alternative therapies such as acupuncture, biofeedback or cognitive behavioral therapy

Consult your headache doctor to choose the best treatment for menstrual migraines that’s based on the intensity and frequency of your menstrual migraines. A detailed assessment and diagnostic tests help your doctor choose the most effective and personalized method for controlling menstrual migraines.

A complete assessment includes:

• Examining your medical history, paying special attention to migraine trends during your menstrual cycle
• Considering your specific headache’s frequency and symptoms
• Keeping track of your menstrual cycles and migraine attacks
• Conducting a neurological evaluation to rule out any underlying nervous system abnormalities
• Performing additional tests such as blood tests, imaging investigations or other specialized procedures

Because of his specialized knowledge of the nervous system, Dr. Cohen is your best choice for the treatment of menstrual migraines. With a thorough understanding of the neurological mechanisms, he provides an exact diagnoses and professional support for managing this difficult condition. Contact Dr. Cohen at Neuro Injury Specialists immediately to get relief from menstrual migraines.