title: [Menstrual migraine].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of migraine in childhood and adolescence has not changed to a great extent, but it increases in adolescence, especially in female adolescents. MENSTRUAL MIGRAINE--DEFINITION: There are two types of menstrual migraine: true menstrual migraine and menstrually related migraine. True menstrual migraine occurs predominantly around menstruation, whereas menstrually related migraine occurs during menstruation, but also at other times during the month.
  
  
  METHODS
  Exaggerated or abnormal neurotransmitter responses to normal cyclic changes in the ovarian hormones are probably the basic cause of menstrual migraines. The fall in estrogen levels during menstrual cycle is trigger for the menstrual migraine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Menstrual migraine has the same symptoms as other types of migraine, but the pain is stronger, it lasts longer, and it is more frequent than other types of migraines.
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to make a diagnosis, women are asked to keep a headache diary for three months. If the migraine headache is severe and occurs regularly between two days before and three days after the start of menstrual bleeding, it is true menstrual migraine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Menstrual migraines are more difficult to treat than other types of migraines. Treatment principles for menstrual migraine are the same as for migraines in general, with certain particularities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hormonally associated migraine is a specific clinical entity. It is important to diagnose the type of migraine, considering the fact that a decline in estrogen level at the end of menstrual cycle triggers migraine, so it can be treated by low levels of estrogen.
authors.affiliation: Institut za neurologiju, 21000 Novi Sad. dsimic@eunet.yu
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simić
authors.forename: Petar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Slankamenac
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cvijanović
authors.forename: Sofija
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banić-Horvat
authors.forename: Zita
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jovin
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ilin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008598:Menstruation; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis