What is a migraine headache?
A migraine is a common, recurrent, disabling headache disorder that can last from 4 to 72 hours. There are a number of characteristics that are typical of a migraine. Migraine headache symptoms include moderate-to-severe pain on one side of the head that may throb. Exertion during routine physical activities — such as walking or climbing stairs — can make the pain worse. Migraine headaches are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and a sensitivity to light and/or sound.

A small percentage of patients with migraine may also have symptoms known as aura. Aura symptoms can affect a person's vision or speech. Menstrual Migraine is typically without aura. Characteristics of a visual aura may include flickering lights, spots, or lines that appear before the eyes, or loss of vision in some cases. Many people feel they must lie down in a darkened room to help alleviate their migraine. While migraines are not life threatening, they can cause major disruptions to your personal and professional life.

What causes a migraine headache?
Experts don’t completely understand what causes migraines. However, migraine headaches are thought to be caused by a change in the brain that eventually causes the blood vessels in your head to expand, resulting in pain. Some common triggers that can help bring on a migraine include alcohol (red wine, champagne), too much caffeine, stress, noise, lighting, eyestrain, changes in the weather, foods such as chocolate, aged cheese, nuts, cured meats, onions, and food additives such as MSG, aspartame, and nitrates. In addition to these triggers, changes in hormone levels may play a role in migraine attacks associated with a woman's period, often referred to as Menstrual Migraine.

What is Menstrual Migraine?
There are actually two types of Menstrual Migraines — Menstrually Related Migraine (MRM) and Pure Menstrual Migraine (PMM). A Menstrually Related Migraine is a headache of moderate-to-severe pain intensity that happens during a certain window of time around the period and at other times of the month as well. A Pure Menstrual Migraine is similar in every respect, but the migraine only occurs during the time around your period.

What causes Menstrual Migraine?
The exact causes of Menstrual Migraine are not known, but there seems to be a connection between changes in hormone levels around menstruation and migraine. Studies have suggested that it may have something to do with changes in hormone levels, which normally occur right before the period starts. In those women who suffer from migraine, this can act as a hormonal trigger.

How common is Menstrual Migraine?
Approximately 21 million women in the United States suffer from migraines, and up to 60% of them suffer from Menstrually Related or Pure Menstrual Migraines.

Are there distinguishing features between Menstrual Migraines and migraines that occur at other times?
Yes. Menstrual Migraines have been reported as more severe than other migraines, may last longer, and may recur more frequently.

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