Migraine is a neurological disease that affects women more than men because of its close relationship with female hormones, estrogens.
Seventy percent of migraines are related to the menstrual cycle and are due to the drop in estrogen that occurs after ovulation, although different neurotransmitters and prostaglandins have also been shown to play an important role.
There are two types of menstrual migraines: pure or true menstrual migraines and associated menstrual migraines. In the first case, headaches occur around the time of the period and do not occur at any other time during the menstrual cycle. On the other hand, in the second case, menstrual migraine headaches can occur at other times of the menstrual cycle in addition to menstruation.
Because estrogen levels gradually increase during pregnancy, migraine attacks stabilize from the second and third trimester of gestation, only to reappear in the postpartum period.