Woman's Hormones & Headaches?

Last night I had my 1st migraine after more than a year of not having one. Amazingly, since I got pregnant, gave birth and being a mom for over a year... never for once I had migraine. Pounding, clustered, left side pain kind of headache. Usually it is just the normal stress headache of being a wife and a mom. But last night, it was the real McCoy; The legendary migraine that is related to my menstrual cycle!

Menstrual headaches are primarily caused by estrogen, the female sex hormone that specifically regulates the menstrual cycle fluctuations throughout the cycle. When the levels of estrogen and progesterone change, women will be more vulnerable to headaches. Because oral contraceptives influence estrogen levels, women on birth control pills may experience more menstrual migraines.

Migraine attacks in women are more likely to occur in the perimenstrual period and occur exclusively so in some women. The acute treatment of menstrual migraine is similar to that of non-menstrually related attacks, but the response to treatment may be less favourable. Perimenstrual prophylaxis, with NSAIDs, triptans or estradiol, is effective in decreasing attack frequency and severity. I always take synflex, since I’m allergic to Ponstan. Ponstan will increase the nausea and I my face will be swollen. So, Synflex had been my buddy since I was a teen, but since I’m a breastfeeding mom I’ve mellowed down a bit on the Synflex intake. So last night when I had the “attack” I had 1 piece of 700mg paracetamol, but it work like Nada..nothing happened....and I braved myself and let the pain took it’s course.

Back on the relevancy between the women’s body and headache, the female reproductive system comprises the vagina, uterus (womb), fallopian tubes and ovaries. Hormones secreted by the ovaries and a small gland in the brain called the pituitary gland control the menstrual cycle. The average cycle is around 28 days. After a period, rising levels of the hormone oestrogen help to thicken the lining of the womb (the endometrium). At mid-cycle, an egg is released from one of the ovaries (ovulation). If the egg is unfertilised, falling levels of the hormone progesterone make the womb lining come away. This is called a period, or menstruation. The cycle then repeats.

From such information, I’m concluding that the drop in my hormones balance is causing this migraine right? From my reading, I may create balance to the hormones if I can increase certain type of nutri during my period. All this while I have made the habit of taking double dose of pramilet during period, but why am I still having this headache? Hubby told me that he read in some articles, having extra vitamin Bs may help. So today I’m gonna try & have a few extra intake of Vegemite and extra portion of green vege. See if it works. If mommies out there is having the same prob, give my theory a “fair go” and post a comment on this topic, i would really appreciate it. Later I’ll post a comment here on my updates.

p/s-doa2 the pain goes away soon. I only have 10days to my research paper’s submission date..HELP & DOA needed!