In girls, the headache rate linearly augments with higher gynaecological age and the menses-related painful syndromes, like headache and dysmenorrhea, are strongly interrelated. It implies that peri-menstrual headache is highly prevalent among adolescents, interpreted in a recent population-based study published in 'The Indian Journal of Pediatrics'.

Luigi Bianchin et al. intended to evaluate the rate of peri-menstrual headache, assess the headache pain pattern during the menstrual cycle and validate its relationships with physical, lifestyle and psychosocial factors among school-aged girls.

A total of 4973 students fulfilled the self-administered questionnaire on features comprising headache and dysmenorrhea, demographic and behavioural characteristics, menarche, menstrual pattern. The prevalence of headache and mean pain intensity score at 3 menstrual cycle phases, i.e. premenstrual, menstrual, in-between period were evaluated, both overall and by the gynaecological year.

Along with mean pain intensity score, the prevalence of 3 different patterns of peri menstrual, mid-cycle or acyclic headache was also assessed. The prevalence of at least once anytime headache during the menstrual cycle was found to be 64.4%. There was a significant association of gynaecological age, middle social level, physical activity, oral contraceptive use and dysmenorrhea with a headache at the multivariable logistic analysis. Around 83.4% girls had peri-menstrual headache (44.6% premenstrual, 38.8% menstrual), 3.5% had mid-cycle headache and 13.2% had acyclic headache. There was a significant association of gynaecological age and dysmenorrhea with headache pattern.

The study investigators suggest, "The anamnesis and monitoring of menstrual health should be monitored while taking care of girls with having headache."