The Relationship Between Stress, Headache, and the Menstrual Cycle in Young Female Migraineurs

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between the menstrual cycle, the stress process, and migraines. Women migraineurs (N = 12) and a matched control sample (N = 12) completed a set of questionnaires assessing stress, appraisal, and coping at premenses, menses, and ovulation. In addition, migraineurs completed a month of daily headache recording. Analyses revealed that the menstrual cycle affected subjects' use of coping strategies and migraineurs' headache activity. Analyses also showed that the covariation between stress and migraine varied across the menstrual cycle. These results support the hypothesis of a three-way relationship between menstrual cycle, stress, and migraine. We suggest that physiological and/or psychological changes associated with premenses may enhance or strengthen the relationship between stress and migraine.