ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION The majority of women who present with headache during pregnancy and post-partum will have a primary headache disorder. Therefore, this chapter largely concentrates on the diagnosis and management of primary headache. These disorders have been clinically classified by the International Headache Society (IHS) and are detailed in the Appendix. All causes of secondary headache can occur in pregnancy as in the non-pregnant state. However, management is restricted to the investigative procedures and drug treatments which are deemed safe in pregnancy. There are some important secondary causes of headache which are particularly common in pregnancy and the peri-partum period.
