headache before menstrual cycle

I was just wondering why before my menstrual cycle i always get a headache?  This last for about 2 weeks and i get one everyday all day...I take miagraine medicine to help me tolerate them, but just as soon as the medicine is gone they start up again..I was just wondering why this happens and if there is anything i can do to prevent them..

[Elaine Brown, MD]

HI!
There is a fairly well known syndrome called menstrual migraines.  We think that in some cases hormones trigger the head aches.  I have seen both high levels of hormones cause migraines ( such as pregnancy ) and low levels of hormones ( such as peri-menstrual or peri-menopausal ).
If you were my patient, I would probably refer you first to a neurologist for evaluation and a trial of migraine prophyllaxis such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers.  If those didn't help ( they usually do!) I would then consider some type of hormonal manipulation such as birth control pills or GnRH agonists.
I hope this helps!
Good luck!
Dr B