Over 50% of migraines in women occur right before, during, or after a woman has her period. This is called “menstrual migraine.” However, only a small percentage of women who have migraine around their period suffer with migraines at this solely at this time of month.
It is still unclear how the menstrual cycle and migraine are linked. It is known that just before the cycle begins, levels of the female hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, go down sharply. This drop in hormones may trigger a migraine, because oestrogen controls chemicals in the brain that affect a woman’s pain sensation.