Pain perception in women with menstrually-related migraine.

Authors :: Linstra KM
Ibrahimi K
van Casteren DS
Wermer MJ
Terwindt GM
MaassenVanDenBrink A
Source :: Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache [Cephalalgia] 2021 Mar; Vol. 41 (3), pp. 417-421. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Oct 21.
Publication Year :: 2021
Abstract: Background: Cyclic hormonal fluctuations influence migraine incidence and severity. Previously, we described reduced menstrual cyclicity in estradiol levels and dermal blood flow reaction to capsaicin in female migraineurs. It is unclear whether pain perception in women with migraine is influenced by the menstrual cycle.<br />Methods: Women with menstrually-related migraine (n = 14), healthy age-matched controls (n = 10) and postmenopausal women (n = 15) were asked to grade trigeminal and non-trigeminal painful stimuli on a numeric pain rating scale on menstrual cycle day 19-21 (mid-luteal) and day 1-2 (early follicular).<br />Results: In women with menstrually-related migraine, trigeminal pain remained low throughout the cycle. Controls showed increased trigeminal pain during the mid-luteal phase compared to the early follicular phase. Changes throughout the cycle were significantly different between women with MRM and controls.<br />Conclusion: The compromised menstrual cyclicity of pain perception in women with menstrually-related migraine parallels our earlier findings on estradiol levels and dermal blood flow.