Medroxyprogesterone Acetate for Treatment of Migraine in Females

Abstract

Objective Estrogen deficiency has always been regarded as an important precipitating factor in menstrual migraine. We propose that endocrinological fluctuation, rather than a lack of estrogens, is the major causal factor in female migraine.

Intervention 155 patients (group A) medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and 80 patients (group B) were given monthly injections of MPA and placebo, respectively, from the beginning of the study.

Results A complete elimination of migraine attacks was achieved in 63% in group A and in 14% in group B (p<0.001).

Conclusion Our findings are in contrast to results suggesting that low estradiol in the luteal phase is responsible for migraine attacks. These may rather be caused by endocrinological fluctuations as they can also be blocked by a continuous delivery of steroids such as estradiol implants, percutaneous estradiol and MPA