I've said this many, many times here and some may be tired of hearing it, BUT I firmly believe that a testosterone imbalance has much to do with CH. Remember too that hormones are regulated by the hypothalamus.

When I got pregnant (7 times), I always jumped right into a cycle, then no headaches until no longer pregnant.  After losing my 4th child, my doctor decided that I needed help due to a hormone imbalance (testosterone), and it worked.  I had NO headaches during my last three pregnancies.

My first symptom of being pregnant was to go into a cluster cycle. Then we started the shots each month and no more CH. I didn't have another CH until I weaned my baby, then back into cycle.  I had to take hormone suppliments each month of my pregnancies in order not to abort.

It's when I had my hysterectomy (uterus and both ovaries) that the cycles ended for good. That's also when I started hormone replacement therapy, which I continued (for 27 years) until just last year.

One of our guys here posted a paper by a research team which indicates that this imbalance DOES effect greater than half of those tested.  

I can't understand why we don't all have a simple test done and rule this possibility out....it may help some or many.  Who knows?  
 

Thanks for bringing this up again Donna.  I know of at least one Newbie who is checking this out as a result.

Leave no stone unturned 

-Dennis-

Donna, this is gaining recognition, and you're right - it's a simple blood test.

The "original" study I think you're referring to is this one:  Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

There are others: 
Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

And this:

The Autonomic Nervous System, by By Otto Appenzeller, P. J. Vinken, G. W. Bruyn:  Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

"The prevalence of cluster headache in males, and the fact that it is extremely rare in the pre-adolescent period, indicates that sex hormones might also be involved in the pathogenetic mechanism.  Testosterone levels have been reported to be normal or low during the cluster headache period (Leone and Bussoni 1993).  Total, free and carrier protein-bound testosterone levels were significantly diminished only in chronic cluster headache patients whose basal and peak FSH levels were significantly increased (Murialdo et al. 1989).  In addtion, a significant reduction of the 24-h integrated mean testosterone level (mesor) and in acrophase delay were found in cluster headache patients.  It was suggested that the stress of the attack caused elevated cortisol levels tand that this, in turn, would reduce testosterone levels (Facchinetti et al. 1986)."


There is an intricate connection between all the chemicals that are being identified as having a role in cluster headaches, especially as regards serotonin, melatonin and testosterone.  Makes sense given the role of the hypothalamus in controlling brain functions related to all of these things.

A very interesting read:  "Melatonin Keeps the Timing Right," by Abraham Kryger, MD, DMD.  It discusses the relationship between melatonin, serotonin, testosterone and other issues of the endocrine system: Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

Laurie

Headache. 2006 Jun;46(6):925-33. 


Testosterone replacement therapy for treatment refractory cluster headache.

Stillman MJ.

Objectives.-To describe the clinical characteristics and laboratory findings of cluster headache patients whose headaches responded to testosterone replacement therapy. Background.-Current evidence points to hypothalamic dysfunction, with increased metabolic hyperactivity in the region of the suprachiasmatic nucleus, as being important in the genesis of cluster headaches. This is clinically borne out in the circadian and diurnal behavior of these headaches. For years it has been recognized that male cluster headache patients appear overmasculinized. Recent neuroendocrine and sleep studies now point to an association between gonadotropin and corticotropin levels and hypothalamically entrained pineal secretion of melatonin. Results.-Seven male and 2 female patients, seen between July 2004 and February 2005, and between the ages of 32 and 56, are reported with histories of treatment resistant cluster headaches accompanied by borderline low or low serum testosterone levels. The patients failed to respond to individually tailored medical regimens, including melatonin doses of 12 mg a day or higher, high flow oxygen, maximally tolerated verapamil, antiepileptic agents, and parenteral serotonin agonists. Seven of the 9 patients met 2004 International Classification for the Diagnosis of Headache criteria for chronic cluster headaches; the other 2 patients had episodic cluster headaches of several months duration. After neurological and physical examination all patients had laboratory investigations including fasting lipid panel, PSA (where indicated), LH, FSH, and testosterone levels (both free and total). All 9 patients demonstrated either abnormally low or low, normal testosterone levels. After supplementation with either pure testosterone in 5 of 7 male patients or combination testosterone/estrogen therapy in both female patients, the patients achieved cluster headache freedom for the first 24 hours. Four male chronic cluster patients, all with abnormally low testosterone levels, achieved remission. Conclusions.-Abnormal testosterone levels in patients with episodic or chronic cluster headaches refractory to maximal medical management may predict a therapeutic response to testosterone replacement therapy. In the described cases, diurnal variation of attacks, a seasonal cluster pattern, and previous, transient responsiveness to melatonin therapy pointed to the hypothalamus as the site of neurological dysfunction. Prospective studies pairing hormone levels and polysomnographic data are needed.

PMID: 16732838