Do I Have Migraine? A 3-Question Migraine Test

Migraine is the most common reason people see a doctor for headache, but a lot of people with migraine have never been told they have it. The ID Migraine is a 3-question screener that was tested in primary care and is still used today because it’s quick and surprisingly accurate. Answer the questions below, then take the result to your doctor.

How the ID Migraine screener works

The screener asks about the last 3 months. With your headaches, did you have:

1. Nausea, or feeling sick to your stomach?
2. Sensitivity to light, a lot more than without a headache?
3. At least one day where headache limited your ability to work, study or do what you needed to do?

Two or more “yes” answers is a positive screen. In the original study of 451 adults aged 18 to 55 with headaches, seen in primary care, the screener caught 81% of people with migraine, correctly ruled it out in 75% of those without it, and 93% of positive screens were confirmed as migraine by headache specialists (Lipton et al., 2003).

What a screener can and can’t tell you

A screener is a sorting tool, not a diagnosis. Migraine is diagnosed by a clinician using the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3), which looks at how long attacks last, what the pain is like, and what comes with it. They’ll also check that nothing else is going on.

So a positive result is a good reason to bring it up with your doctor, and a negative result doesn’t mean your headaches aren’t real or aren’t worth treating.

Headache warning signs that need a doctor now

Most headaches are not dangerous. These are the ones doctors want to see quickly:

• A sudden, explosive headache that reaches full strength within about a minute
• Headache with fever, a stiff neck, a rash, or feeling very unwell
• New weakness, numbness, confusion, trouble speaking, or vision loss that doesn’t fully go away
• A new kind of headache after age 50
• Headache after a head injury
• Headaches that keep getting worse, or a clear change in your usual pattern
• Headache that changes a lot when you lie down or stand up, or comes on with coughing or straining
• A new or different headache during pregnancy or after giving birth
• A new headache if you have cancer or a weakened immune system

If a headache is sudden and severe, or comes with weakness, confusion or trouble speaking, call emergency services.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my headache is migraine?

Migraine attacks usually last 4 to 72 hours untreated, often throb or sit on one side, get worse with movement, and come with nausea or sensitivity to light and sound. Some people also get aura. A doctor makes the diagnosis, but a positive ID Migraine screen is a good reason to ask.

Is the ID Migraine accurate?

In its validation study, it picked up 81% of people with migraine and 93% of people who screened positive turned out to have migraine. It misses some people, so a negative screen doesn’t rule migraine out.

Can you have migraine without a headache?

Yes. Some people have aura or other migraine symptoms with little or no head pain. This screener focuses on headache, so tell your doctor about any symptoms that don’t fit the questions.

What kind of doctor diagnoses migraine?

A family doctor or general practitioner can diagnose and treat most migraine. A neurologist or headache specialist helps when the diagnosis isn’t clear or treatment isn’t working.

More free migraine tools

• MIDAS CalculatorMigraine disability score from 5 questions about the last 3 months.
• HIT-6 CalculatorHeadache Impact Test score from 6 quick questions.
• Migraine Screening TestDo your headaches look like migraine? The 3-question ID Migraine.
• Chronic Migraine CalculatorEpisodic or chronic? Check your monthly headache days.
• Medication Overuse Headache CheckerRebound headache check against the ICHD-3 day limits.
• Preventive Response CalculatorPercent drop in migraine days, and is it a fair trial yet?
• Caffeine CalculatorTotal your daily caffeine and see where it lands for migraine.
• Visit Summary BuilderA one-page printable summary for your doctor or neurologist.

References

1. Lipton RB, Dodick D, Sadovsky R, et al. A self-administered screener for migraine in primary care: the ID Migraine validation study. Neurology. 2003;61(3):375-382. PubMed
2. Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS). The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition. Cephalalgia. 2018;38(1):1-211. PubMed

This tool is for education and to help you talk with your doctor. It doesn’t diagnose anything and isn’t medical advice. Your answers stay in your browser and are never sent to Cerebral Torque.