ABSTRACT
Headache is a common ailment. Menstrually exacerbated headaches have been examined with the focus of research on the menstrual migraine headache. Many women experience headaches around their menstrual period. The menstrual migraine headache is thought to be influenced by the fluctuation of estrogen levels through the sympathetic nervous system. The scales were constructed to provide more sensitive and accurate self-report measurements. The menstrually exacerbated tension headache, although rarely severe, nevertheless can be troublesome. No single drug or nondrug technique has been found universally effective for it. Mean ratings of intensity and disability for both menstrual and nonmenstrual headaches were relatively low, with average means under 30 on a 100-point scale. Higher intensity and disability levels for the menstrually exacerbated headaches were not influenced by the subjects’ awareness of or expectation that they would be so, as in other studies of menstrual symptomatology.
