[Migraine and pregnancy : Gender-specific aspects and current knowledge]

Migraine, a frequent and debilitating neurological disease, shows gender-specific differences in prevalence and severity. Pregnancy is associated with numerous unique features in terms of migraine course, treatment options and differential diagnoses.

How does pregnancy influence the course of migraine? What are the possible treatment options during pregnancy? Which differential diagnoses should be considered?

Narrative review with summary and discussion of relevant studies and guidelines on migraine in pregnancy.

During pregnancy up to three quarters of women experience improvement of their migraine; however, there may be a renewed increase in frequency after childbirth. Choosing an appropriate treatment during pregnancy requires a careful risk-benefit assessment. It is important to consider secondary causes of headache as these can occur more frequently during pregnancy and some can be life-threatening.

Consideration of specific aspects of migraine in pregnancy is crucial to be able to develop the best possible treatment strategies for affected patients.