Migraine in pregnancy and lactation: a clinical review.

Migraine affects mostly women during their reproductive years and is far more prevalent than many people realise. Within 1 year, over 15% of women and 6% of men have attacks of migraine with or without aura.1 Although migraine without aura accounts for the majority of migraine, particularly in women, the overall 1-year prevalence of migraine with aura is around 5% for women and 2% for men.1 Migraine prevalence varies with age, rising through early adult life, peaking at age 30–40 years and then declining in the late 40s and after 50 years in both males and females.1 Drug treatment is usually necessary for effective control of migraine hence many women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy will want to know what effects pregnancy will have on migraine and vice versa, and what treatments they can take safely during pregnancy and lactation.