Prophylaxis and Treatment of Menstrual Migraine

Migraine is a very disabling condition that can severely impair quality of life. Eighteen percent of women suffer from migraine headaches, and of those, approximately 60% have migraines near the time of their menstrual period. Migraine is generally undertreated, not only because some sufferers do not have access to proper care, but also because many fail to seek treatment because of misperceptions that nothing can be done for a condition from which generations of women have suffered. Research has shown that migraine is not a disorder of blood vessels, but rather a brain disorder characterized by inflammation. The goal of this paper is to explain practical approaches to managing menstrual migraine.