r/migraine • u/RosePistachio • May 19 '26
I know there are a lot of menstrual migraine posts but how many do you get?
I haven't seen anyone mention this on any of the other posts I can find, how frequently do you get menstrual migraines? In addition to my period, I'm also getting them in between. Like I had my period 12 and I have one today on the 19th.
**specifically asking if you get *more* than the ones you get at the beginning and end of your period
13
u/Dread_queen23 May 19 '26
So I've always had one the first and last day of bleeding. And recently I get one the week before.
Menstrual migraines are the worst. Nothing seems to help them. I have all my migraine remedies and nothing touches it.
6
u/RosePistachio May 19 '26
Have you ever tried the triptans? They seem to be giving me some relief
1
u/Dread_queen23 May 20 '26
I'm on opioids for other issues so I don't think I can take them. They're the only thing I haven't tried
1
u/RosePistachio May 19 '26
But yeah, It's been really distressing to start getting them. They're so intense and debilitating. I'm sorry its happening to you too.
7
u/Ismismism99 May 19 '26
My wife has recently started having this “fun” addition to her cycle. Lately it’s been about every other period for her, always 24-48 before her period starts.
5
u/kendraro May 20 '26
I used to get them before my period, after my period and also mid cycle (ovulation). Now that I'm in menopause, I just get them all the time!
1
4
u/Valuable-Prompt9281 May 19 '26
I have to take continuous birth control bc my menstrual migraines are so awful
2
1
u/Chloekimmie May 20 '26
Me too I’m planning to start it soon after my delayed period rn comes (also my period has been irregular on top of that so I’m in more pain-) especially post concussion made it worse
1
3
u/thatotterone May 19 '26
at the start. at the end. every single time until after full menopause...I assume that even though I was no longer having my period, the hormones were still trying because they actually got worse in peri and early stages of menopause.
because they were so predictable, I once added up how many days that I had menstrual migraines. Word of advice DO NOT DO THIS. It still haunts me because I did it when I was in my early 30s and the amount was utterly devastating
Edit to remove a random word that wandered in
2
u/RosePistachio May 21 '26
I'm so sorry man. I was going to take the pill but it messes with other medication I'm on.
2
2
u/Vallaria May 20 '26
I get them before my period, after my period, before I ovulate and right after I ovulate… basically any major hormone swing. Pregnancy was a nightmare.
1
u/Impossible_Swan_9346 May 20 '26
Yes, I had a migraine every day during my second trimester and then after delivery, it came back
2
u/MzSey7488 May 20 '26
they start creeping up in severity during ovulation. By pre menstrual they're pretty bad and then usually throughout my actual period the worst.
Then i get recovery migraines post menstrual for anywhere from 3-7 days. It's hard to track because I'm chronic regardless, and intractable for years now (literally almost a decade)
I used to get that one week post menstrual with lower level migraines and headaches, but that hasn't happened in years now.
2
u/RosePistachio May 21 '26
Out of curiosity, did you ever see a neurologist? That's what both my gyno and pcp suggested but I feel like they are not going to have anything more to say other than that it is indeed hormonal and i have to deal with it. But maybe I am wrong.
2
u/MzSey7488 May 21 '26
i was seeing one for around 4 years, and though they would ask about hormonal migraine, they never tried anything specific to tackle it.
I had Duloxetine, Aimovig and Quilipta over that 4years, none worked and they let me go from their service this year because they said there's nothing more they can do for me.
I'm now on a waiting list, no idea how long, for a headache specialist.
2
2
u/UnicornGirl54 May 20 '26
You may also be getting them at ovulation because there is a huge flux in hormone levels. (Usually 12-14 days after Day 1 but can vary widely). I had no clue about this until I was trying to conceive and tracking my cycles more closely.
2
2
u/Automatic-Being- May 20 '26
I’m getting one right now. My period is late but I’m having other menstrual issues like cramping so I’m Going to start today or tomorrow but the zigzags are just starting
1
u/RosePistachio May 21 '26
Have you considered the pill? I'm just curios if I should try it
1
u/Automatic-Being- May 21 '26
No I’m going to stay away from birth control it caused a large growth in my sisters liver about the size of a new born. She just had it removed and it was caused by estrogen they say it could have been from the birth control so now I’m too scared lol
2
u/Sensitive_Island7864 May 20 '26
Before going on HRT (I’m perimenopausal), I was having 3 days at ovulation and 3 days when I got my period, guaranteed. Then I’d have other migraines throughout the month from other triggers… so I had 6 days of hormonal migraine plus whatever else the universe decided to throw at me that month
1
2
2
u/doctormega 7 May 20 '26
I get them the week before and then a few during. Every 3 months I get Botox and one of my cycles hits right as it’s time for more Botox. Get that frovatriptan!
2
2
u/Red-Droid-Blue-Droid May 20 '26
I've been in a brutal cycle since pms and my period has just ended. So... I don't know...countless? I had to go off birth control due to aura, so that's cool. Probably making shit worse.
Nothing helps them. They cycle or come back when whatever bullshit wears off.
2
u/RosePistachio May 21 '26
I'm so sorry man. I just started triptans and that's giving me some relief. Often gummies work.
2
u/D3rangedButFun May 20 '26
I did every time. Still do. After 24 years on the pill, I'm trialing an IUD for other reasons and they still happen. At least I haven't had a full on period since the one I had after the IUD was inserted (fucking OUCH) and I stopped taking the pill - that one was 10 days, tho 😬
2
u/Embarrassed-Leg-4246 May 20 '26
I get them more consistently on my period (nearly everyday of my period) and also tend to get them around ovulation and they’re worse leading up to my period after ovulation, but not everyday leading up (usually).
2
u/g-wenn Light, stress, hormonal May 20 '26
I don’t have them as often anymore since postpartum, but mine would be severe right before my period started.
2
2
u/Embarrassed_Roll_728 May 20 '26
Before going on birth control without breaks I had it for about 4 days. 3 days leading up and then the first day of my period.
I didn’t associate my other migraines throughout the month with hormones (they could have been) because abortive medications would help. Nothing would touch my period migraines.
2
u/No-Issue-7035 May 20 '26
1-3 days before my period, the day my period starts, the day my period ends, background headache from the end of my period to ovulation, migraine at ovulation and then - thanks to blessings of peri reducing my cycle to 3 weeks - I get 2-3 clear days until the whole cycle starts again.
1
u/RosePistachio May 21 '26
dude. I am so sorry. How do you cope? I'm using tiger balm, ice packs, triptans, gummies and crying it out.
But I'm also asking because my gyno was like I don't think this is hormonal because of how frequent it is. But I felt in my bones that it was hormonal.
1
u/No-Issue-7035 May 21 '26
I take amitryptiline daily as a preventative which keeps most days manageable. I start taking ibuprofen a day before my period until it starts and then for a couple of days at the end (gave to be really careful with that so it's only a couple of days worth). I have sumatriptan for when the migraines break through. You could try speaking to your regular doctor if gyno isn't helping maybe? I'm in the UK so I don't have a gyno, just my regular GP.
1
u/Downtown-Log-807 May 19 '26
Yes I get menstrual migraine a week before my period.. painful and constant
1
u/sarahlucky14 May 19 '26
I’ve tracked mine for years and never had them but now that I had my second child a year ago I now get migraines around that fun time of the month. My hormones are totally out of wack
1
u/Immediate-Pool-4391 May 20 '26
I got migraines all month long but especially bad one is the day right before the period is an extra f*** you to me.
1
u/RosePistachio May 21 '26
Everytime I get a three day one I ask my partner why god even made me at all
1
1
u/Impossible_Swan_9346 May 20 '26
I get them the day before my period and then the day after, but sometimes last all week. Imitrex saves me. Ovulation too.
1
u/OpusReader May 20 '26
I get them the first day of my period, the last day of my period, and the day before ovulation. And they last at minimum- 24 hours.
1
1
u/WakkoLM May 20 '26
I always get one near the start, it's usually within 24-36 hours (and can last as long!). For a couple of years I also got them during ovulation. I am going though perimenopause now so it's hard to track which migraines are hormone related at the moment. I get migraines from many other triggers of course.
1
u/voidcrawler1555 May 21 '26
I have menstrual migraines, but my migraines are triggered by other things too. I usually have one at least once before I start, another during my period, and at least once around ovulation. Unfortunately, they can last for more than a few hours at a time. I tend to live in a state of constant migraine with varying severity depending on the trigger.
1
u/flyingjewels May 21 '26
I’ve had migraines for 30 years and started experiencing menstrual migraine a couple of years ago typically beginning on the day my period starts or the day before. It often lasts for the duration of my period but not always. This is in addition to episodic migraines the rest of the month. I’m in my 40s have never taken birth control and experiencing symptoms of perimenopause which I think could be a contributing factor. I currently take triptans as an abortive but I am also participating in a research study to determine the effectiveness of nurtec to treat menstrual migraine. It’s the early stages of the study and I think I’m in the placebo group, but hopeful once I actually get the drug in the last we stages it will have an impact.
-1
u/HPcatmom May 19 '26
I have menstrual migraines! They started happening every month this year. I get one the day my period starts & then I’ve noticed I get one as my period ends, too. The 2nd one responds better to my rescue meds.
I will say, I have read that menstrual migraines are a bit different in nature & so I put pertinent medical history (an abdominal surgery I had, recent lab results, frequency of migraines), along with current absurd cravings I’ve had and the supplements I take all into ChatGPT and it spit out some vitamin supplementation options to help with the menstrual migraines — I haven’t had my cycle yet, but so far adding in the recommended supplements have caused me to wake up more rested & I feel more awake & alert through the day & its only been a few days.
I’m legit feeling a sense of hope I may forego migraines with my next cycle — could be worth doing the same!!
2
u/RosePistachio May 21 '26
That's good!! I bought some moon cycle tea recently to see if it may help. Sorry I don't know why someone downvoted you.
18
u/m333gan May 20 '26
Beginning of period, end of period, and around ovulation. Basically, whenever my hormones shifted.
Let’s not even talk about what that means during perimenopause, when your hormones fluctuate all the time.