Background/Aim. Definition of menstrual migraine as a specific clinical
entity or, maybe, migraine headache with menstrually related occurring, still
remains unresolved question. The aim of this study was to investigate if
perimenstrual headache in our patients fulfills diagnostic the International
Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD) criteria for migraine without
aura or represents a different type of headache which is the symptom of
premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Methods. The study included 50 women with
headache in perimenstrual period in at least two out of three menstrual
cycles, during the last year or longer. Two questionnaires, a questionnaire
for headache and a questionnaire for PMS, were used. Results. The majority of
all the examined women, 29 of them, had migraine and PMS and 9 women had
migraine without PMS. Headache in 38 (76.0%) patients fulfilled diagnostic
criteria for menstrual migraine, (26 and 12 women had pure menstrual migraine
and menstrually related migraine respectively). Intensity of PMS was not
different in a groups of women with different types of headache (p = 0.184):
a total number of PMS symptoms was 8.2 ? 4.6 in the group with pure menstrual
migraine, 10.8 ? 3.9 in the group with menstrually related migraine and 10.8
? 6.3 in the group with non-migraine headache. Conclusion. This study shows
that headache, occuring in perimenstrual period, is not always migraine, but
could fulfill criteria for tension-type headache, as well. Specific
characteristics of perimenstrual headache, which could distinguish it as a
symptom of PMS, were not found. Expected relation in time of headache onset
and menarche was not confirmed.
Perimenstrual headache: Migraine without aura or premenstrual syndrome symptom?