What is Menstrual Migraine? Know about the role of hormones in women's neurological health, types of migraines

Headache, especially migraine is seen more frequently in women as compared to men. Menstrual Migraine and Estrogen Supplementation When we spoke to Dr Aakash Agrawal, Consultant Neurologist, Manipal Hospital, Bhubaneswar, he said in cases of ‘menstrual migraine’ that are refractory to usual medicines, Low amounts of estrogens are given during these episodes of ‘menstrual migraine’ in refractory cases, which do not respond to usual medicines given to treat an episode of migraine. However, women taking cyclic oral contraceptive pills for 21 days may experience estrogen withdrawal headaches during the 7-day ‘off’ phase due to a similar dip in estrogen levels. In this condition, the patient’s usual pattern of migraine headache is preceded by transient visual symptoms like scintillating lights or abnormal sensory symptoms in one side of the body or rarely paralysis and difficulty speaking. Risk Reduction Strategies for Migraine The risk is usually minimal at Modern doses of ethinyl estradiol prescribed nowadays or progestin-only pills, the other female hormone which seems innocuous in terms of stroke risk.