: To evaluate an electronic diary as a tool  to evaluate the occurrence and relationship of headaches and premenstrual  syndrome (PMS) symptoms throughout the menstrual cycle in women with migraine.

: Menstrually related headache and PMS  significantly impact the quality of life of many women. The time relationship of  these 2 menstrually related problems is not well understood and not well  described.

: Twenty women with migraine experiencing  regular menstrual cycles were enrolled in a prospective study designed to date-  and time-stamp data, both self- and computer-prompted, headache and PMS  symptoms, for 3 consecutive months. A previously validated PMS score was  calculated by grading 23 PMS criteria on a scale of 0 to 3 (0 = no symptoms, 3 =  severe symptoms).

: The total number of data entries recorded  was 2009, composed of 56 menstrual cycles in 20 migraineurs. Five hundred  forty-four entries reported a current, prodromal, or previous headache. The mean  daily occurrence of headache increased beginning on cycle day -5, peaked on days  +1 to +5, and returned to baseline by day +7. Mean daily PMS scores ranged from  2.4 to 12. Mean daily PMS scores peaked on days -6 to +2 and returned to  baseline by day +8.

: An electronic diary may have potential  as a diagnostic tool in studying headaches and PMS symptoms throughout the  menstrual cycle. The occurrence of headache and PMS symptoms in migraineurs  follows similar time courses.

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Evaluation of an Electronic Diary as a Diagnostic Tool to Study Headache and Premenstrual Symptoms in Migraineurs