Cluster headache in women: relation with menstruation, use of oral contraceptives, pregnancy, and menopause.

Abstract

In contrast with migraine, little is known about the relation between cluster headache and menstrual cycle, oral contraceptives, pregnancy, and menopause. A population based questionnaire study was performed among 224 female cluster headache patients, and the possible effect of hormonal influences on cluster headache attacks studied. For control data, a similar but adjusted questionnaire was sent to healthy volunteers and migraine patients. It was found that menstruation, use of oral contraceptives, pregnancy, and menopause had a much smaller influence on cluster headache attacks than in migraine. Cluster headache can, however, have a large impact on individual women, for example to refrain from having children.

• Authors: J A van Vliet, I Favier, F M Helmerhorst, J Haan, M D Ferrari
• Journal: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry (J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry) Vol. 77 Issue 5 Pg. 690-2 (May 2006) ISSN: 0022-3050 [Print] England
• PMID: 16407458 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Contraceptives, Oral

Topics

• Adult
• Climacteric (physiology)
• Cluster Headache (etiology, physiopathology)
• Contraceptives, Oral (adverse effects)
• Female
• Humans
• Menstruation (physiology)
• Middle Aged
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Complications (etiology)
• Risk Factors
• Statistics as Topic