How to Treat Premenstrual Headaches
What are premenstrual headaches?
Premenstrual headaches occur in the days leading up to the start of your period. These headaches vary in type and severity. However, many women experience migraine headaches before their period.
Migraine headaches cause moderate to severe pain that can last several days and cause other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light.
Many women who come to see Dr. Ashford at The Ashford Center for premenstrual headaches have hormonal migraines before their period.
What causes premenstrual headaches?
Premenstrual headaches are caused by the release of a neuroactive peptide emitted during the degeneration of the endometrium that occurs right before your period. Hormonal imbalances trigger this process.
When you don’t get pregnant during your menstrual cycle, progesterone and estrogen levels decline, triggering the degeneration of the endometrium and the release of the neuroactive peptide.
You may also experience hormonal headaches during perimenopause (the transitional period before menopause) and menopause.
When should I get professional help for premenstrual headaches?
If you have premenstrual headaches that affect your quality of life, you should schedule a consultation at The Ashford Center. Dr. Ashford also recommends you come in for a consultation if you have hormonal headaches related to perimenopause or menopause.
Dr. Ashford asks detailed questions about your symptoms, including when they occur and the severity of your pain. He also asks about your menstrual cycle and reviews your medical and gynecological history.
What are some treatments for premenstrual headaches?
Treatment for premenstrual headaches depends on the severity of your symptoms and whether you’ve completed your childbearing or not. If you have future pregnancy plans, Dr. Ashford may recommend headache or migraine medications.
He may also suggest a change in your hormonal birth control prescription. Some forms of birth control may trigger migraine headaches.
For women who have no future plans for pregnancy, Dr. Ashford recommends the advanced endometrial ablation procedure. This minimally invasive surgery gently removes the hormonal lining of your uterus that causes your premenstrual headaches.
Dr. Ashford has performed more than 5,000 advanced endometrial ablation procedures. This pain-free procedure may eliminate other PMS symptoms you have, like bloating, mood swings, and painful periods. It also helps ease perimenopause and menopause symptoms like hot flashes.
Find out more about treatment options for premenstrual headaches by calling The Ashford Center or scheduling an appointment online today.