Cluster headaches during period?
Has anyone else experienced cluster headaches during their period week? For the past 6 months or so, I've been getting what seems like cluster headaches the week before and during my period. At first, I thought they were just migraines, but looking up symptoms they seem to be cluster headaches.
The first one I ever had, behind my left eye I was in excruciating pain. It hurt to even look sideways or up and was a constant throbbing pain behind my eye. I even went to an eye specialist because I thought something was wrong, but they couldn't figure anything out.
But now every month like clockwork, I get the same thing. It's always behind my left eye, a throbbing constant pain. It doesn't go away with Tylenol or Excedrin, and usually lasts until my period is over and then I'm fine. I am taking birth control and wondering if that has anything to do with it too. Any advice?
Hi sarahgb93,
Thank you for reaching out with your question. Although we can't give medical advice, I can give you information about cluster headache attacks and menstrually related migraine.
We we have headache pain every month with our cycle, it may be migraine related. It's not common to have a cluster headache attack triggered by that. And if the attack lasts longer than four hours, it probably not a cluster headache attack.
A migraine attack can have all the symptoms you've described, and more. If you haven't mentioned this to your doctor yet, I would encourage you to do so. Here is information on menstrual migraine you may be interested in; https://migraine.com/blog/hormonal-migraine-the-basics/.
There is a medication that can be taken a few days before, during and after your cycle that may help, it's called Frova. You can find information on that here; https://migraine.com/blog/short-term-option-for-migraine-prevention-frova/.
I hope this helps!
Nancy Harris Bonk, Patient Advocate/Moderator
