Menstrual and perimenopausal migraine: A narrative review

Abstract

Migraine is affected by the changing hormone environment, with perimenopause associated with increased migraine, particularly menstrual migraine. Menstrual attacks are recognised to be more disabling and less responsive to treatment compared with non-menstrual attacks. Perimenstrual estrogen 'withdrawal' is implicated in the pathophysiology of menstrual migraine, with increased prevalence of migraine in perimenopause associated with unpredictable estrogen fluctuations. Perimenopausal women often have contraceptive needs as well as menopause symptoms and it is important to understand the potential effects of exogenous hormones on migraine. Maintaining stable estrogen levels with exogenous hormones can benefit migraine but clinical trial data are limited. This short narrative review addresses the diagnosis and management of menstrual migraine in perimenopausal women, and discusses the management of menopause symptoms in peri- and postmenopausal women with migraine.

Keywords: Contraception; Estrogen; Estrogen withdrawal; Menopausal hormone therapy; Menopause; Menstrual migraine; Migraine.