What should you know about cluster headache after period?

Cluster headache can cause intense pain around one eye with tearing, eye redness, nasal change or restlessness. A headache after bleeding stops may also relate to hormone shifts, missed meals, poor sleep, dehydration or another headache disorder. The timing after a period is useful information, but it does not identify the cause by itself.

Note the first and last day of bleeding, the headache start, the painful side, duration, eye or nasal symptoms, sleep, fluid intake and any medicines. A consistent pattern gives a GP clearer information than a single episode.

Use a diary for several cycles and avoid taking pain medicine more frequently than directed. Keep meals, fluids and sleep as regular as possible around the end of a period. Book a GP assessment if the attacks are new, severe, recurrent or accompanied by eye symptoms; bring your diary and a list of medicines, including hormonal treatments.

Get emergency help for a sudden severe headache, weakness, numbness, confusion, fainting, seizure, fever with a stiff neck, repeated vomiting or new loss of vision. Seek prompt review for a painful red eye, a steadily changing pattern or headaches that persist outside the expected episodes.

Ask whether the pattern resembles cluster headache, migraine or another condition; whether hormones or medicines may be contributing; what treatment is suitable; and what symptoms should prompt urgent care.