A True Menstrual Migraine

Menstrual Migraines As a nurse, when taking the initial admission report for a female patient who has a history of menstrual related migraines what is the first thing that comes to mind? Are these migraines like a normal headache? What makes them different? There are two types of menstrual migraines, those that are true migraines and others called menstrually related migraines. When determining the difference between the two is it important to recall the definition of each. A true menstrual migraine only occurs with menstruation where as a menstrually related migraine occurs during menstruation and at other times of the month (Simic et al., 2007, p. 452).

Assessment According to Witteveen, van den Berg and Vermeulen (2017), about 50%
It is important to consider the type of migraine when developing a treatment plan. When educating the patient recommend keeping a ‘headache diary’ for a three-month time span. This allows the heath care provider to evaluate and associate symptoms, frequency, and duration around menstruation to determine the type. Treatment of menstrual migraines is similar to those of non-menstrual migraine with medications such as triptans or hormonal treatment. According to Kalidas (2017), the goal of short term prophylaxis is the reduction of duration, frequency and intensity. It is important to recommend the patient take these medications daily. They should start 3 days before their menstrual cycle begins and continue up to 7 days after the cycle ends. Recently clinical studies have shown the importance of a multidisciplinary approach with communication between a gynecologist and a neurologist has shown a reduction of headache days per month (Witteveen, van den Berg & Vermeulen, 2017, p
It is essential to take a full past medical history including allergies and prior treatments as well as provide knowledge of certain triggers that can precede the patient’s migraine. It is also important for the nurse to be an advocate for the patient to ensure that they are getting the proper and adequate treatment specific to the disorder. Often people with migraines can be overlooked when seeking medical attention as some health care providers assume their multiple visits are due to searching for opiate medications. When educating patients, it is also vital to express the use of alternative therapies to treat their migraines. It is critical as nurses to evaluate and approach each patient as an individual holding biases