What Causes Menstrual Headaches?
May 13, 2021
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Xu Jing
Introduction
Clinical studies have shown that menstrual migraine is associated with physiological factors unique to women, including blood loss during menstruation and various neuroendocrine factors. Menstrual blood loss can exacerbate pre-existing anemia, leading some women to experience headaches, pallor, and other symptoms during their period. Additionally, women’s immune resistance declines during menstruation; thus, exposure to cold at this time may not only cause dysmenorrhea but also trigger headaches.
Clinical studies indicate that menstrual migraine is associated with physiological factors unique to women; approximately 63% of women experience headaches closely linked to their menstrual cycle. These headaches are related to blood loss during menstruation and various neuroendocrine factors.
During menstruation, blood loss may exacerbate pre-existing anemia, leading some women to experience headache and pallor. Exposure to cold during this period may also trigger headache, as women’s immune resistance declines during menstruation; thus, chilling the body not only causes dysmenorrhea but may also induce headache.
Moreover, menstrual headache is also associated with fluctuations in serum estrogen levels. Before and after menstruation, declining estrogen concentrations alter vascular tone both centrally and peripherally, triggering headache in susceptible women. Additionally, some women experience heightened nervous tension and increased sensitivity before and after menstruation, resulting in headaches of varying severity.
