Rather, they have a biological predisposition to migraine, and the normal changes in hormones over the cycle serve as headache triggers that increase their vulnerability to headache. Current thinking is that a drop in estrogen following several days of high levels serves as the hormonal trigger for most women. This is the natural pattern just before the period starts, and accounts for the strong link between menstruation and migraine. The first step in controlling menstrual migraine is usually to treat it like any other migraine. Any of the medications currently available for migraine can be used to stop an attack of menstrual migraine, provided there is no significant chance of pregnancy.
Some women like to try to prevent the migraine from starting in the first place.
For exclusively menstrual migraines, a regular prescription dose of an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or naproxen started about two days before the expected migraine can be helpful. When the headache-prone period is over, the drug is stopped until the next month. Other medications that have been used in migraine prevention can also be used in this fashion. For women with migraines at other times of the month as well, or whose periods are irregular, using a regular migraine preventive throughout the month may be most effective. Choice of a preventive will depend on your particular headache pattern and type, as well as your medical history.