Changes in estrogen levels can lead to migraines in women during their menstrual cycles, according to a new study.
A team of researchers from Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin found that fluctuating estrogen levels lead to an increased release of a neurotransmitter in their brains that causes headaches.
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGPR) is a protein that is released around the brain, which can cause inflammation of the brain’s envelopes and lead to migraines.
“Animal models suggest that fluctuations in female hormones, particularly estrogen, lead to increased release of CGRP, an inflammatory neurotransmitter, in the brain,” said study leader Dr. department of neurology with experimental neurology at Charité.
“It’s a naturally occurring substance in the body, and when a person has a migraine attack, increasing levels are released, significantly dilating – or widening – the blood vessels in the brain.
“This causes an inflammatory reaction which could be one of the reasons for the severe headaches migraine sufferers experience,” Dr Raffaelli added.
The researchers studied a total of 180 women to examine the link between female hormones and the release of CGPR in men.
CGPR levels were tested in migraine patients, twice during their cycle.
The first measurement was taken during menstruation and the second during the woman’s ovulation period.
The data was then compared with women who do not suffer from migraines.
The results showed that patients who suffer from migraines have a significantly higher concentration of CGRP during menstruation.
“This means that when estrogen levels drop just before the onset of a menstrual period, migraine patients release more CGRP.
“This could explain why these patients suffer more migraine attacks just before and during their period,” Dr. Raffaelli said.
The study also revealed that women who take birth control pills do not experience any fluctuation in estrogen levels.
It has been suggested that birth control pills may actually provide relief for some women with migraines.
“But as our study also shows, there are women who suffer from migraine even without any hormonal fluctuation. We suspect that other processes in the body play a role in triggering attacks in these patients.
“After all, CGRP isn’t the only inflammatory peptide that can trigger a migraine attack,” Dr. Raffaelli said.
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According to the NHS website, migraines are more likely to develop either the two days before a period or the first 3 days of the cycle.
However, periods aren’t the only trigger for hormonal headaches.
Other causes may include, the combined pill, menopause and pregnancy.
The Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin team plans to study which other symptoms are influenced by the menstrual cycle and which potentially contribute to migraines.
The researchers also plan to take a closer look at CGRP levels in men of different age groups.
