London - Women who regularly suffer from migraines are likely to have more painful periods, scientists have found.
Experts have revealed a link between migraines and levels of the oestrogen hormone – which can leave women exposed to more severe pain and stress at certain times in their menstrual cycle.
Scientists have long suspected that fluctuating oestrogen levels may be linked to migraines, with the connection explaining why women are more likely to suffer extreme headaches as they approach the menopause.
But the new research, led by experts at Montefiore Medical Centre in New York, suggests this link may mean that women who have regular migraines have more extreme pain during their period as well.
The findings suggest that women with a history of migraine experience a rapid oestrogen drop in the days before menstruation.
This ‘two-hit’ system then increases the chance of them suffering more migraines during their periods, along with the lack of sleep, nausea and dizziness that often accompany the attacks.
Increasing evidence suggests that migraines are caused by fluctuations in blood pressure and vascular health – with people who suffer migraines also at increased risk of strokes and heart attacks.
Men also suffer from migraines, with causes ranging from stress, noise and tiredness, to diet, alcohol and caffeine.
Migraines tend to improve with age for both men and women – with 40 per cent of people no longer suffering attacks after the age of 65 – although there is a spike in frequency for some women around the time of the menopause.
But many scientists think oestrogen also plays a vital role in women’s migraines. The new findings, published in the Neurology medical journal, shore up this theory, providing evidence that women who suffer regular migraines display severe drops in oestrogen just before a period.
Study leader Dr Jelena Pavlovi said: ‘These results suggest that a “two-hit” process may link oestrogen withdrawal to menstrual migraine. More rapid oestrogen decline may make women vulnerable to common triggers for migraine attacks such as stress, lack of sleep, foods and wine.’
The team tracked 337 women, a third of whom had a history of getting migraines.
The investigators measured the participants’ hormone levels for one monthly cycle, and peak hormone levels, average daily levels and day-to-day rates of decline were calculated over the five days following each hormone peak in their cycles.
In the two days after the peak oestrogen level, just before menstruation, the oestrogen levels in the women with migraines dropped by 40 per cent, compared to 30 per cent for women without migraines.
Dr Pavlovic said the findings provide a glimpse into the complex link between migraine and hormones – but stressed that more research is needed.
She went on to say: ‘Future studies should focus on the relationship between headaches and daily hormone changes – and go on to explore the possible underpinnings of these results.’
Daily Mail