Effect of Migraine on Pregnancy Planning: Insights From the American Registry for Migraine Research

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of migraine on women's pregnancy plans. Patients and Methods: Participants were enrolled in the American Registry for Migraine Research, an observational study that recruits patients from headache specialty clinics across the United States. Data for this analysis were collected via patient-completed questionnaires completed from February 1, 2016, through September 23, 2019. Participants were adult women with migraine who answered the American Registry for Migraine Research family planning questions. Results: Of 607 women, 19.9% (n¼121) avoided pregnancy because of migraine. Compared with women who did not avoid pregnancy, those who did were younger (37.5AE9.2 years vs 47.2AE13.3 years; P<.001), had fewer children (0.8AE1.1 vs 1.5AE1.5; P<.001), and were more likely to have chronic migraine (n¼99 [81.8%] vs n¼341 [70.2%]; P¼.012) and menstrually associated migraine (n¼5 [4.1%] vs n¼5[1.0%]; P¼.031). Women who avoided pregnancy believed that their migraine would be worse during pregnancy (n¼87[72.5%]), disability caused by migraine would make pregnancy difficult (n¼82[68.3%]), the migraine medications they take would negatively affect their child's development (n¼92[76.0%]), and migraine would cause the baby to have abnormalities at birth (n¼17[14.0%]). Conclusion: Migraine effects pregnancy plans of many women, especially of those who are younger and have menstrual migraine and chronic migraine. Women who avoid pregnancy because of migraine believe that migraine will worsen during pregnancy, make their pregnancy difficult, and have negative effects on their child. Study results highlight the importance of educating women with migraine about the relationships between migraine and pregnancy so that informed family planning decisions can be made.

Management of primary headaches during pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding: A systematic review

“…Primary headaches, comprising migraine, tension headache, cluster headache, and other trigeminal autonomic cephalgias (TACs), are common during pregnancy, affecting 10%–17% of pregnancies 1 . A recent survey of women with migraine across the United States found that approximately one in five women avoided pregnancy because of migraine; chief concerns noted were that the migraine could worsen during pregnancy (73% of women) or negatively affect their child's development (76%) 2 . Although tension headaches are the most common primary headache during pregnancy, migraine is by far the most common primary headache to present to clinical practice, accounting for about 90% of primary headache‐related visits to providers during pregnancy 3 .…”

“…1 A recent survey of women with migraine across the United States found that approximately one in five women avoided pregnancy because of migraine; chief concerns noted were that the migraine could worsen during pregnancy (73% of women) or negatively affect their child's development (76%). 2 Although tension headaches are the most common primary headache during pregnancy, migraine is by far the most common primary headache to present to clinical practice, accounting for about 90% of primary headache-related visits to providers during pregnancy. 3 The stresses of pregnancy and imminent infant care may exacerbate the frequency and severity of primary headaches.…”

Efficacy of conservative physiotherapeutic approaches in hormonal-related headaches: a scoping review protocol

“…The 6-stage are outlined as follows: (1) identification of the research question, (2) identification of relevant studies, (3) selection of studies, (4) charting of data, (5) summary of results and (6) consultation with stakeholders, an optional but recommended evaluation component of a ScR.…”

“…Headache has been linked to a significant impact on women quality of life [6]. The ScR of the efficacy of conservative physiotherapeutic approaches in hormonal-related headaches in this protocol will survey the current scientific literature to identify gaps in the research across contents and methods to encourage future research and uniformity of terms and prevent duplication of efforts.…”

“…Moreover, headache has been linked to a significant impact on women quality of life. Ishii et al (2020)[6] described that 121 (19.9%) out of 607 migraineur women avoided pregnancy because of migraine. This population was more likely to suffer from chronic migraine or menstrual-related migraine and believed that headache would have been worse during pregnancy.…”