1
|
Delaruelle Z, Ivanova TA, Khan S, Negro A, Ornello R, Raffaelli B, Terrin A, Mitsikostas DD, Reuter U. Male and female sex hormones in primary headaches. J Headache Pain 2018; 19:117. [PMID: 30497379 PMCID: PMC6755575 DOI: 10.1186/s10194-018-0922-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The three primary headaches, tension-type headache, migraine and cluster headache, occur in both genders, but all seem to have a sex-specific prevalence. These gender differences suggest that both male and female sex hormones could have an influence on the course of primary headaches. This review aims to summarise the most relevant and recent literature on this topic. METHODS Two independent reviewers searched PUBMED in a systematic manner. Search strings were composed using the terms LH, FSH, progesteron*, estrogen*, DHEA*, prolactin, testosterone, androgen*, headach*, migrain*, "tension type" or cluster. A timeframe was set limiting the search to articles published in the last 20 years, after January 1st 1997. RESULTS Migraine tends to follow a classic temporal pattern throughout a woman's life corresponding to the fluctuation of estrogen in the different reproductive stages. The estrogen withdrawal hypothesis forms the basis for most of the assumptions made on this behalf. The role of other hormones as well as the importance of sex hormones in other primary headaches is far less studied. CONCLUSION The available literature mainly covers the role of sex hormones in migraine in women. Detailed studies especially in the elderly of both sexes and in cluster headache and tension-type headache are warranted to fully elucidate the role of these hormones in all primary headaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zoë Delaruelle
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Ghent, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Sabrina Khan
- Danish Headache Center, Glostrup Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andrea Negro
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Molecolare, Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaele Ornello
- Department of Neurology, University of La’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Bianca Raffaelli
- Departmentt of Neurology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alberto Terrin
- Department of Neurosciences, Headache Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Dimos D. Mitsikostas
- Neurology Department, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Uwe Reuter
- Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - on behalf of the European Headache Federation School of Advanced Studies (EHF-SAS)
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Ghent, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
- Danish Headache Center, Glostrup Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Molecolare, Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
- Department of Neurology, University of La’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
- Departmentt of Neurology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Neurosciences, Headache Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Neurology Department, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wu X, Wang M, Li S, Zhang Y. Migraine and breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis of observational studies based on MOOSE compliant. Medicine (Baltimore) 2016; 95:e4031. [PMID: 27472675 PMCID: PMC5265812 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000004031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
It has long been speculated that migraine may contribute to an increased risk of breast cancer; however, results from previous studies have been inconclusive. To definitively interrogate this issue, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the correlation between these 2 diseases.Medline and PubMed were searched to identify relevant studies that had been published until October 2015. Based on a random effects model, relative risk (RR) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to evaluate the pooled risk.A total of 7 studies involving 17,776 cases and 162,954 participants were included. Our study revealed that there was an inverse relationship between migraine and total breast cancer risk, with RR (95%CI) was 0.78 (0.66, 0.92). In subgroup-analysis, such an inverse relationship was also identified in the ductal and lobular carcinoma, case-control studies, and the ER/PR breast cancer. Little evidence indicative of a publication bias was uncovered.In conclusion, our study implicates a statistically significant inverse association between migraine and the risk of breast cancer. However, larger prospective cohort studies concerning other geographic populations to assess the association between migraine and the breast cancer risk are warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yi Zhang
- Breast Disease Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Correspondence to Yi Zhang, Breast Disease Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China (e-mail: )
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lowry SJ, Malone KE, Cushing-Haugen KL, Li CI. The risk of breast cancer associated with specific patterns of migraine history. Cancer Causes Control 2014; 25:1707-15. [PMID: 25359301 DOI: 10.1007/s10552-014-0479-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2014] [Accepted: 10/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Studies have suggested that a history of migraines may be associated with a lower risk of some types of breast cancer, though biological mechanisms are unclear. Identifying specific characteristics of migraines which are most strongly associated with breast cancer risk could improve our understanding of this relationship. METHODS We ascertained specific characteristics of women's migraine histories (severity, timing features, and presence of migraine aura). We used polytomous logistic regression to estimate the risk of ER+ ductal, ER- ductal, ER+ lobular, and ER+ ductal-lobular breast cancer associated with self-reported characteristics of migraine history. A total of 715 breast cancer cases (276 ER+ ductal, 46 ER- ductal, 191 ER+ lobular, and 202 ER+ ductal-lobular) and 376 controls ages 55-74 years were included in this population-based case-control study. RESULTS Compared to women without a migraine history, women with a >30-year history of migraines had a 60 % (95 % CI 0.2-0.6) lower risk of ER+ ductal breast cancer; those who had their first migraine before age 20 had 50 % lower risks of ER+ ductal and ER+ lobular breast cancer (both 95 % CIs 0.3-0.9), and women who experienced migraine with aura had 30 % (95 % CI 0.5-0.98) and 40 % (95 % CI 0.4-0.9) lower risks of ER+ ductal and ER+ lobular breast cancer, respectively. CONCLUSION The lower risk of ER+ breast cancer associated with migraine appears to be limited to those women with early onset or long duration of migraine history, or those who experienced migraine with aura. This expands our understanding of the relationship between migraine and breast cancer and provides additional insight into potential underlying biological mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Lowry
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., M4-B874, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA,
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Macìas G, Merki-Feld GS, Parke S, Mellinger U, Serrani M. Effects of a combined oral contraceptive containing oestradiol valerate/dienogest on hormone withdrawal-associated symptoms: results from the multicentre, randomised, double-blind, active-controlled HARMONY II study. J OBSTET GYNAECOL 2014; 33:591-6. [PMID: 23919857 DOI: 10.3109/01443615.2013.800851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this multicentre, randomised, double-blind study was to compare a combined oral contraceptive (COC) containing oestradiol valerate/dienogest (E2V/DNG) administered in a dynamic dosing regimen with a monophasic COC containing ethinyloestradiol/levonorgestrel (EE/LNG), with regard to their ability to reduce the frequency and intensity of headache and pelvic pain in women with hormone withdrawal-associated symptoms (HWAS). Women aged 18-50 years received E2V/DNG in an oestrogen step-down and progestin step-up regimen (26/2 regimen; n = 223) or EE 20 μg/LNG 100 μg (21/7 regimen; n = 218) over six cycles. Headache and pelvic pain were assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) during cycle days 22-28. Rescue medication use was also assessed. E2V/DNG was superior to EE/LNG with regard to reducing the frequency and intensity of headache and pelvic pain from baseline to cycle 6 (change from baseline in the average of the three highest VAS values [mean ± standard deviation]: 47.7 ± 29.4 vs 34.5 ± 25.7 mm, respectively; p < 0.0001). The use of rescue medication was also significantly reduced with E2V/DNG compared with EE/LNG (p < 0.05). E2V/DNG may be a good option for women who experience HWAS with traditional 21/7-day regimen COCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Macìas
- Mexican Institute of Clinical Research, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
Women using combined oral contraceptives (COCs) report hormone withdrawal-associated symptoms (HWaS), including bloating, headaches and pelvic pain, which might be due to withdrawal of exogenous hormones and fluctuations in endogenous estrogen during the hormone-free interval (HFI). The prevalence of HWaS is not yet well studied, but these symptoms may lead to reduced user satisfaction and quality of life, and sub-optimal adherence to, and discontinuation of, COCs. HWaS are often confused with treatment-related adverse events because the timing of symptom occurrence is seldom considered. Publications on HWaS are lacking, with few guidelines and no clear consensus on the best treatment option(s). Reported treatments include continuous or extended hormonal COC regimens, which extend the time of the active hormone. Although extended-cycle regimens can cause unpredictable bleeding patterns, user satisfaction is high, with several studies reporting improvement in HWaS. Shortening the HFI is also a well-tolerated and effective method of reducing HWaS, and confers a more predictable bleeding pattern than extending the active hormone period. This may improve acceptance and long-term use of COCs. Future prospects include estradiol-based contraceptive combinations with a shortened HFI and more stable estradiol levels throughout the menstrual cycle.
Collapse
|
6
|
Jensen JT, Parke S, Mellinger U, Serrani M, Mabey RG. Hormone withdrawal-associated symptoms: comparison of oestradiol valerate/dienogest versus ethinylestradiol/norgestimate. EUR J CONTRACEP REPR 2013; 18:274-83. [PMID: 23638631 DOI: 10.3109/13625187.2013.785516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of oestradiol valerate/dienogest (E2V/DNG) versus ethinylestradiol/norgestimate (EE/NGM) on hormone-withdrawal associated symptoms (HWAS) in otherwise healthy women who had experienced at least one of these symptoms when using 21/7-day combined oral contraceptives (COCs). METHODS This phase III, parallel-group study randomised 409 women aged 18 to 50 years to E2V/DNG or EE/NGM. The primary efficacy variable was the change from baseline to cycle 6 in the average of the three highest visual analogue scale values for headache and/or pelvic pain during cycle days 22 to 28. RESULTS In total, 395 were included in the full analysis set (E2V/DNG, n = 191; EE/NGM, n = 204). E2V/DNG reduced the symptoms of headache or pelvic pain during cycle days 22 to 28 from baseline to cycle 6 to a significantly greater extent than EE/NGM (mean decrease 43.6 vs. 35.5 mm; p = 0.0024). Both treatments were well tolerated with a similar proportion of women experiencing adverse events that were considered at least possibly related to treatment (35% E2V/DNG vs. 34% EE/NGM). CONCLUSIONS E2V/DNG reduces the frequency and intensity of headache and pelvic pain to a greater extent than EE/NGM, and may be a good option for women susceptible to HWAS with conventional 21/7-day COCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey T Jensen
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Allais G, Castagnoli Gabellari I, Mana O, Benedetto C. Treatment strategies for menstrually related migraine. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 8:529-41. [PMID: 22934727 DOI: 10.2217/whe.12.37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Approximately 50% of migrainous women suffer from menstrually related migraine (MRM), a type of migraine in which the attacks occur at the same time as or near the menstrual flow. Attacks of MRM tend to be longer, more intense and disabling and sometimes less responsive to treatment than non-menstrual migraines. Similar to the management of non-menstrual migraine, the use of triptans and NSAIDs is the gold standard for MRM treatment. In this paper, the most important studies in the literature that report the effectiveness of triptans, of certain associated drugs and other analgesic agents are summarized. Preventive strategies that can be used if a prophylactic treatment is needed is also analyzed, with particular attention paid to the use of perimenstrual prophylaxis with triptans and/or NSAIDs. Moreover, considering the peculiar interaction between menstrual migraine and female sex hormones, brief mention is made to possible hormonal manipulations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gianni Allais
- Women's Headache Center, Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|