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Treating migraine with contraceptives

  • CLINICAL ASPECTS OF HEADACHE
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Abstract

At least 18% of women suffers from migraine. Clinically, there are two main forms of migraine: migraine with aura (MA) and migraine without aura (MO) and more than 50% of MO is strongly correlated to the menstrual cycle. The high prevalence of migraine in females, its correlation with the menstrual cycle and with the use of combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs) suggest that the estrogen drop is implicated in the pathogenesis of the attacks. Although CHCs may trigger or worsen migraine, their correct use may even prevent or reduce some forms of migraine, like estrogen withdrawal headache. Evidence suggested that stable estrogen levels have a positive effect, minimising or eliminating the estrogenic drop. Several contraceptive strategies may act in this way: extended-cycle CHCs, CHCs with shortened hormone-free interval (HFI), progestogen-only contraceptives, CHCs containing new generation estrogens and estrogen supplementation during the HFI.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgical Sciences, Women’s Headache Center, University of Turin, Via Ventimiglia 3, 10126, Turin, Italy

    Gianni Allais, Giulia Chiarle, Silvia Sinigaglia, Gisella Airola, Paola Schiapparelli, Fabiola Bergandi & Chiara Benedetto

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  1. Gianni Allais
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  2. Giulia Chiarle
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  3. Silvia Sinigaglia
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  4. Gisella Airola
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  5. Paola Schiapparelli
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  6. Fabiola Bergandi
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  7. Chiara Benedetto
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Correspondence to Gianni Allais.

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Allais, G., Chiarle, G., Sinigaglia, S. et al. Treating migraine with contraceptives. Neurol Sci 38 (Suppl 1), 85–89 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-017-2906-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-017-2906-9

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