Menstrual Migraine Treatment

Menstrual Migraine is one of the most common and debilitating migraine headaches affecting women on the Gold Coast. It has been reported that 60% of women indicate that they are more likely to experience migraine during their menstrual cycles. 14% of female migraineurs will exclusively experience their migraines with their period.

At the Gold Coast Headache and Migraine Clinic™, we use modern and world-leading techniques, to assess your upper cervical spine and brainstem. This determines the true cause of your menstrual period headache pain. If a sensitised brainstem is found to be the reason, we can start your menstrual migraine treatment immediately. We normally see significant changes in patients with mild to severe menstrual migraine attacks within the first 6 sessions, as we do with 85-90% of our patients.

Book An Appointment

Understanding Your Symptoms

Symptoms of Menstrual Migraine

As with other types of migraine attack, symptoms generally include moderate to severe headaches, described as a pulsating or throbbing pain on one side of the head. They can also include associated symptoms, such as;

Sensitivity to light, sound and smell
Nausea
Vomiting
Visual disturbances

With a Menstrual Migraine, the symptoms occur during the monthly menstrual cycle and can last multiple days.

The Types of Menstrual Migraine

There are two common types of menstrual migraine. Pure Menstrual Migraine and Menstrual Related Migraines.

1. Pure Menstrual Migraine

A pure menstrual migraine typically occurs only 1-3 days before or after menstruation. For a diagnosis of pure menstrual migraine, the migraine attacks must occur exclusively between two days before and three days after the onset of menstruation (day 1 ± 2 of menstruation). These migraine attacks must happen in at least two out of three consecutive menstrual cycles and must not occur at any other times during your menstrual cycle. Pure menstrual migraines are less common than menstrually related migraine attacks and occur in approximately 10% of women who suffer from migraines during their menstrual cycle.

2. Menstrually Related Migraine

Menstrual related migraines typically occur either 1-3 days before or after menstruation, with additional migraines that fall outside of the cycle. Menstrual related migraines are more common than pure menstrual migraine, and must be present in more than 60% of your cycles to meet diagnostic criteria.

Read more information about Menstrual Migraines

Understanding Your Migraine

What is Causing your Menstrual Migraine?

Recent evidence suggests that a sensitised brainstem (specifically the trigeminal cervical nucleus) may be influenced by the normal fluctuations of oestrogen levels during the menstrual cycle.

Sensitisation of the brainstem often occurs due to dysfunction or abnormalities in the cervical spine joints. These spinal abnormalities can refer severe pain and associated symptoms into the head or face via the sensitised brainstem. Once sensitised, the brainstem becomes hypersensitive to even normal fluctuations in oestrogen, interpreting them as threats and consequently triggering abnormal pain and symptoms in the head or face.

Organise Your Initial Assessment

About The Assessment Stage

What To Expect During The Assessment

1. Comprehensive and in-depth examination

We will perform a thorough and in-depth examination to identify all of the factors that may be related to your headaches and migraines. We will focus particularly on your upper cervical spine in our assessment.

2. Ligamental stability and vertebral arterial tests

In order to ensure the highest level of safety is maintained, we routinely will assess the stability of the important ligaments in your upper cervical spine, prior to any assessment or treatment.

3. Temporarily reproduce your headache and migraine symptoms

During our assessment and treatment process, we will be applying gentle and specific pressure to your upper cervical spine in order to temporarily reproduce your headache symptoms. This helps us to identify the specific cause of your headaches.

Menstrual Migraine – Quick Facts & FAQs

What is menstrual migraine?

Menstrual migraine is a type of migraine that occurs in close association with the menstrual cycle. According to international diagnostic criteria, it typically develops within two days before to three days after the onset of menstruation, and occurs in at least two out of three cycles.

These migraines often occur without aura and are commonly reported to be more intense and longer lasting than migraines that occur at other times of the month.

History of ‘Hormonal’ Migraine Treatment

Originally, menstrual migraines were referred to as Hormonal Migraine or Hormonal Headaches as they were thought to be caused by a fluctuation in oestrogen during the monthly period cycle. However, studies have since shown that there is no difference in the change of oestrogen in menstrual migraine sufferers when compared to those who experience no migraines.

Furthermore, when attempting to treat the fluctuation of oestrogen with hormonal birth control medication (birth control pills) and Hormone Replacement Therapy, there has been no evidence of any improvement. Suggesting another reason must be the cause of these headaches.

Sensitised Brainstem

Some sufferers of menstrual migraine attacks might not have any underlying disorders or pathologies that can be recognised. In this case, where there is no known cause, it is often due to a sensitised brainstem.

If you have a sensitised brainstem, it will perceive non-threatening stimulation (such as changes in hormone levels). The brainstem will then cause you to feel pain at the point where the sensory information was originally detected.

This sensation of pain is due to the heightened arousal of the sensitive brainstem, which leads to its hyper-excitability. A sensitive brainstem will send this sensory information to the brain, however, the sensation will be heightened so that the brain perceives it as painful.

Learn About The Watson Headache Approach

Sensitised Brainstem Explained

How are Menstrual Migraines Diagnosed?

Diagnosing menstrual migraines involves a thorough assessment of symptoms, medical history, and potential triggers. Healthcare providers typically follow these steps:

Headache Diary: Tracking migraine patterns, menstrual cycles, and potential triggers helps determine if migraines align with hormonal fluctuations.
Symptom Analysis: Evaluating the severity, duration, and characteristics of migraine headaches, including associated symptoms such as nausea, sensitivity to light, and throbbing pain.
Exclusion of Other Conditions: Ruling out other headache disorders or medical conditions that may mimic menstrual migraines, such as tension headaches or chronic migraines.
Hormonal Influence and Brainstem Sensitivity: While hormonal fluctuations have long been considered a trigger for menstrual migraines, recent research suggests that a sensitised brainstem may play a significant role. If the brainstem is already hypersensitive, normal hormonal changes—such as fluctuations in oestrogen during the menstrual cycle—may be misinterpreted as a threat, leading to migraine symptoms. Understanding this connection is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

In order to effectively treat and manage menstrual migraines, your healthcare professional needs to make an accurate diagnosis. If menstrual migraines are suspected, a tailored management plan can be developed to help reduce frequency and severity.

How long does a menstrual migraine last?

A menstrual migraine usually lasts between 4 and 72 hours, although some attacks may persist longer if not treated early. Many women report that menstrual migraines feel more severe and are less responsive to standard pain relief compared to non-hormonal migraines.

Early intervention can help reduce the duration and intensity of symptoms.

How can menstrual migraine be prevented?

Prevention strategies may include:

Tracking the menstrual cycle to identify predictable migraine windows
Maintaining regular sleep and meal timing
Hydration and stress regulation
Short-term perimenstrual medications prescribed by a GP or neurologist

Because menstrual migraine often involves both hormonal timing and underlying neurological sensitivity, management is most effective when both factors are considered.

What foods can trigger menstrual migraine?

There is no single food that causes menstrual migraine in everyone. However, during the premenstrual phase, some women may be more sensitive to common migraine triggers such as:

Alcohol
Aged cheeses
Processed meats containing nitrates
MSG
Skipped meals or fasting

Often it is the combination of hormonal change and increased nervous system sensitivity that lowers the threshold for an attack.

Does menopause affect menstrual migraine?

Migraine patterns often change during perimenopause due to fluctuating hormone levels. Some women experience an increase in migraine frequency during this transitional phase.

Following menopause, when hormone levels stabilise, many women notice an improvement in hormonally associated migraine. However, this varies between individuals and depends on underlying neurological sensitivity.

How Do I Know If I Have a Pure Menstrual Migraine?

(Attacks fulfilling criteria A-B)

Migraine features	Attacks fulfilling the criteria of migraine May have attacks fulfilling criteria of migraine with aura
Frequency	Occurring only during the window from 2 days before to 3 days after the first day of menstruation, in at least 2 out of 3 menstrual cycles, and not occurring at any other time in the cycle.

How Do I Know If I Have a Menstrual Related Migraine?

(Attacks fulfilling criteria A-B)

Migraine features	Attacks fulfilling the criteria of migraine May have attacks fulfilling criteria of migraine with aura
Frequency	Occurring during the period spanning two days before to three days after the onset of menstruation, in at least two out of three cycles, and also occurring at other points in the menstrual cycle

Treating Menstrual Migraines

I’ve tried everything, how can I treat my Menstrual Migraine?

It is common for people who suffer from Menstrual Migraines to have tried a wide range of different treatments. Many of our patients have tried the following for menstrual migraine prevention:

Hormone replacement therapy
Changes to the contraceptive pill
Nutritional changes
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

However, as new research suggests, these treatments are not targeting the cause of these migraines. Getting assessed to identify whether a sensitised brainstem is the main cause of your migraines should be your next step.

At Gold Coast Headache and Migraine Clinic™, we are trained in assessing your menstrual migraines according to the latest research. We have techniques to assess whether this sensitised brainstem and your cervical spine may be the true cause. If this is the case, then treatment can start immediately. We expect a significant change and relief on your menstrual period headache within 5 sessions for 85-90% of our patients, and the best part is that it is safe, medication-free and non-invasive.

Learn About Our Treatment Approach

What our clients have said

Excellent

4.9

Andrea Duffy

After being diagnosed with Sunct Trigeminal Neuralgia I was seeking treatment without drugs. After 2 months of treatments with Kevin I'm now pain free. Well worth the effort for a fantastic result, thanks team.

Sarah Jane

Seeing Doug & the team at BHMC has really changed my life, and I’m really grateful for the ongoing care and support. I used to think I had bad vertigo & I would feel dizzy and faint and light headed and nauseous all day everyday and couldn’t work, couldn’t do housework, couldn’t walk my dog, could barely stay standing to shower all because I had been walking around with an unaligned c2 &c3 in my neck due to years of bad posture and constantly hunching over at my desk at work or my head down looking at my phone all day. Migraines 2-3 times a week, constantly feeling pressure in my head and sharp pain, unable to sleep a full nights sleep, and not reacting well at all to prescription medications like valium, replax, and others. I finally got health insurance and headed into BHMC and in the 1st consultation, I was advised of a detailed diagnosis and knew I was in the right place to get help. I’d been struggling everyday for over a year with migraines, had to quit jobs, and was mentally struggling due to these physical symptoms, it was awful. I really wish i’d gone to get physio sooner! Please go and see BHMC, I have been in physio for less than 6 months (probably 10-15 appointments) and have never felt better and more stable. If you go here, try the sessions, buy the pillow, sit up straight, do the exercises, I promise you’ll be better off! Doug has been amazing & so professional, he really knows what hes doing. All the office team is lovely as well!

Samuel Cox

I have been seeing Dr. Woo for about 6 months now and he has been helping me manage my migraines fantastically. I used to get on average 2 migraines a month, now I have gone 4 months with no migraines. The cause of my migraines was very quickly diagnosed and its clear the team here prioritise the goal of self management, not the reliance on medication and continuous appointments. Can recommend to anyone who suffers from Chronic Migraines, it may well be a life changer for you.

Han Wang

My headache problem has been lasting for many years and I suffer from it more frequently from the last 18 months. The quality of my life before treatment was affected tremendously. I simply couldn't enjoy lots of activities when headache attacks occur. I started my headache treatment from the last few weeks and it has been very effective. It is very obvious to how I feel around my neck before and after the treatment. I haven't had any headache episode since. I highly recommend this clinic and the physician named Douglas. He is courteous, gentle, very caring and most amazingly very knowledgeable and skillful. He was able to diagnose my headache issue and provide detailed explainations about my treatment plan and future preventative guidance. I wish I had found this clinic earlier and for anyone who is suffering from headaches you should definitely give it a go. Overall it's a nice and clean clinic, easy public transport and parking. Helpful and friendly admin staff too. Thank you Brisbane Headache and Migraine Clinic Sunnybank Hills.

Celeste Cover

My healthy 7yr old son out of blue started having debilitating migraines about a year ago. Being a nurse I ensured we ruled out anything nasty by doing MRI and seeing specialist. But we kept getting no definitive answer as to why they were reoccuring. Being so young treatment options are limited until 12yrs of age and every episode we would end up at the emergency department with then specialist follow up appointments. Something had to change. I then came across a fellow work colleague (GP) whom referred me to Brisbane Headache and Migraine Clinic. My son has been seeing David now at the spring hill clinic for over 2mnths, where he has worked absolute wonders. My son has had no episodes of a migraine to date yet. David also ensure he educates his clients during the appointment, follows up with exercises and resources for you to use at home as well, easy management plans and a diary to track and see patterns as to why a migraine maybe triggered. I would highly recommend these clinics to anyone suffering. The amount of knowledge and expertise by the staff is amazing. I will always be praising them for the help with my son.

Sahan Amarasena

I have been seeing Sascha for about 3 weeks now. Thanks to Sascha, I have gone from 4-5 headaches a week to being headache free for over a week now. He is very knowledgeable and was quick to diagnose my problem. The treatment plan has been very clear and easy to follow at home. We have addressed all factors that are contributing to my headaches and I am confident of keeping my headaches under control thanks to the tools Sascha has taught me. Highly impressed with the team. They have been very professional, friendly and helpful throughout and been impressed with their customer service. Highly recommend these guys if you are someone who has been suffering with headache for a long time like myself.

Ana Uppman

Mattias and the staff at the clinic are wonderfully helpful and friendly. Mattias in particular helped me to manage chronic headaches and sinus effectively and naturally which has provided a huge amount of pain relief to me especially after so many years of discomfort. Thank you so much Mattias and staff.

Jesse Tamblyn

Diagnosed with Vestibular Neuritis, quickly turned into vestibular migraines of a hellish level. I was hallucinating constantly, pretty much 24/7 for a entire year. With no regular symptoms of a migraine other than extreme light sensitivity, my doctor ordered all the tests, nothing was helping. After a few sessions with Sasch I have zero symptoms and none of my previous triggers are triggering any hallucinations/migraines. Sasch is increadibly skilled at what he does and is very passionate about his clients. I am forever in a debt of gratitude.

kynan jones

I have had cluster headaches on and off for two years now and have had no clue what to do about it, I stumbled across Brisbane migraine and headache clinic, decided to give it a go and I could not be happier with the results from Mattias. My symptoms have dropped by an easy 90% and I can enjoy my days again. Thank you Mattias and thank you Brisbane migraine and headache clinic.

Carter Bennett

So far my treatment at the Headache and Migraine clinic has been very helpful. As someone who experiences migraines often enough, I can say with confidence that after only a few months of treatment with practictioner Mattias, the frequency and severity has been reduced. Still a ways to go till Im migraine free, but I can say with confidence that this very interesting form of treatment works.

ARCHANACHOWDARY NALLAPANENI

David is really wonderful and he is a magician. I've been suffering from migraine headaches for past three years after I met David, and his treatment is like a miracle. I've been on treatment for five weeks now and haven't had any headaches. Thank you heaps David

Rachel de Vera

Best place to overcome your headache pain. This clinic will give you treatment to make your life free from migraine.

Luke Shanley

Ariel from Brisbane Migraine & Headache clinic was the only person that actually helped with my migraines. After seeing doctors & neurologists to no avail i decided to give it a go. I'm able to see friends, nieces & nephews again and working full time. This seemed impossible just over 2 months ago when I first started treatment. Gave me my life back.

Danielle Raftopoulos

I've seen Ariel for neck, back and knee pain/ injuries in the past. She does an excellent job with releasing muscles through dry needling and acupuncture which has relieves pain. Ariel provides exercises to do at home which are helpful. I've also seen all the other physios at the clinic. Highly recommend it.

Pawan Sandhu

I was suffering with bad migraine from last 13 years. Then I heard about Brisbane headache centre. I consulted with Dominic he is very professional and nice Physio. He find out the triggers and started my treatment since i seen him first till now I haven't had any headaches. I highly recommend people if you suffering with headache and migraine please go and consult with the team. Thanks Dominic.

Brooke O'kell

I have had an amazing experience with Ariel at the clinic. I went there in horrific pain after been diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia and I was taking 12 nerve pain tablets a day. The clinic was recommended to me by a friend and I'm so glad I gave them a try because now after a couple of months I am pain free and down to one nerve tablet a day. It's hard to explain really how grateful I really am now to be spending Christmas with my family pain free after not been able to leave the house without crying in pain. I'm would give them 100 stars if I could and I've already recommended Ariel to some friends who suffer migraines. Thank you for everything Ariel your an amazing and lovely lady who really changed my life.

Cathy Biles

I have suffered from migraines for 30 years and I have found that the treatment that I am having at Brisbane Headache and Migraine Clinic is the most effective way I’ve found in preventing a migraine. I have been having treatment with Mattias for around 4 months, and at this stage I still do get some migraines, but they are getting a lot less frequent than they were before I started having treatment. Mattias is very understanding and explains each step of the treatment very thoroughly.

Candy Beanland

Dominic is a very polite person who has helped me a great deal with my migraine headaches. I am very grateful to him.

Emma Zonca

I've had a great experience being treated by Dominic. I was recently diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia and my symptoms have now massively reduced. The care and education I have received have been excellent. All staff have been welcoming and very lovely to deal with since my first appointment. I highly recommend Brisbane Headache and Migraine Clinic.

Ebony Smith

I've been receiving treatment from Mattias for a little over two months now and I cannot recommend this practice enough!!! I have been struggling with Migraine headaches and terrifying aura symptoms for 10+ years and have tried absolutely everything (from medications, diets, all sorts of treatments and multiple specialist/neurologist appointments) in order to eliminate, ease or simply manage the pain. Thank you to Mattias and the wonderful team at Brisbane Headache and Migraine Clinic for listening to my struggles with pain, understanding my issues, applying the right treatment that my body was receptive to...and most importantly.... they gave me a free jar of mints! What a DEAL! 10/10 recommend.

Cassandra Guse

2 months ago debilitating migraines were driving me crazy - and I finally snapped and called this clinic after 3 years of spending most of my spare time just resting and re-habbing my head and neck between work. I started treatments with Dominic immediately. And I am amazed to report that I haven't had a migraine since! I wish I had done it years earlier. Dominic is pleasant, thorough, very knowledgeable and holistic in his advice, picking up on things which seem unrelated but were likely contributing to my headaches - and explains everything every step of the way. I can't recommend him highly enough.

Laura O'hearn

I have only been seeing Dominic from Brisbane Headache and Migraine Clinic for three weeks, but the change in my migraines has been dramatic. I have struggled with chronic migraines for over 20 years and I did not find daily medication helpful in controlling them. I wish I had known about Brisbane Headache and Migraine Clinic sooner as this has been a life-changing experience.

Paul Hewitt

There could not be too much praise for the services and results produced at this Centre . I was suffering clusters of migraines and other neck pain. Went to Doctor, more medication! Decided there has to be a better way. Googled the Headache and Migraine Centre, met with Mattias, and Helen , a few visits and the relief was significant . Small business could take a lesson from their efficiency as well, Admin staff are all over everything, helping you to make appointment times that suit you. If you had or having similar issues to mine..........Just go there .

Chimorne Bekker

Special thanks to Dominic for treating me at the Brisbane Headache and Migraine Clinic. I have had roughly 11 sessions at the clinic and have been headache & migraine free for two weeks today. This may not seem very long, but it is for someone who experiences an attack every second day. My treatment is still ongoing, but the results are already promising. I also have to mention that Dominic was the first specialist to notice that my C2-C3 cervical vertebrae were rotated/disturbed and recommended that we realign the vertebrae and desensitise my brain stem. This was a relief as specialists in the past have diagnosed me with anything from ethmoid sinusitis and occipital neuralgia to labelling it as “psychosomatic“. I would highly recommend anyone suffering from migraines/headaches to arrange a consultation with Dominic.

Megan Tilley

After about 5 weeks of constant headaches, in complete desperation I contacted BHMC and within 4 sessions with Mathias, my headaches significantly reduced in severity and duration. Highly recommended!

Have Questions?

If you have any general enquiries, feel free to use our form on this page to ask us your questions. If you are looking to make an appointment, you can scroll down to make a booking.

Common Headaches Treated at our Clinic

Menstrual Migraine Cluster Headache Cervicogenic Headache Whiplash Associated Injury Sinus Headache Chronic Daily Headache Tension Type Headache Migraine Headache Hormonal Headache Vertigo Cervical Headache Trigeminal Neuralgia Occipital Neuralgia Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome Hemiplegic Migraine Abdominal Migraine