Estradiol and other sex hormone dynamics in menstrual migraine: pathway analysis of hormones in a case-control follow-up study
Authors' conclusion
Women with MM have a higher peak estradiol and a more pronounced estradiol decline during the luteal phase compared to controls
Study context
- Population
- Women with menstrual migraine (MM) and healthy controls; serum hormones on days 1, 2, 3, 8, 10, 12 and 14 after LH surge (mid- and late-luteal phases)87 menstrual cycles
- Participants
- 46 women
- Comparison
- Women with menstrual migraine vs healthy controls
- MMn = 28
- Healthy controlsn = 18reference
- Outcome
- Peak estradiol level during mid-luteal phase (day 8) and its decline from day 8 to day 14
- Follow-up
- Day 8 to day 14 post-LH surge
Methodological detailsstandardized cycle days based on LH surge, 413 standardized serum hormone measurements
- Standardized cycle days based on LH surge
- 413 standardized serum hormone measurements
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Estradiol · luteal phase
Ratio (peak estradiol, 49% higher)
1.49
95% CI 1.03–1.87P = 0.04
MM
Ratio (decline mid- to late-luteal, 90% greater)
1.90
95% CI 1.16–3.12P = 0.03
MM
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
Other sex hormones (progesterone, testosterone, gonadotropins, androgens) and hormone pair ratios
- No differences in other sex hormones; progesterone showed high variability and a peak difference of similar magnitude to estradiol
- Secondary pathway analysis
Original publication
Estradiol and other sex hormone dynamics in menstrual migraine: pathway analysis of hormones in a case-control follow-up study. Eur J Endocrinol. Published 8 September 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →