Birth Control and Migraines

How Migraines are Diagnosed

Migraines can affect many women and is not always linked with taking birth control. As well as suffering a headache, migraine sufferers often report visual disturbance and possible photophobia along with nausea and sometimes vomiting.

Migraines tend to be diagnosed based on symptoms along with any possible precursor, such as the link between birth control and migraines. For some who find themselves incapacitated due to the frequency and severity of the migraines, more detailed tests may be undertaken to ensure there is not a more complex underlying cause.

Birth Control and Migraines: An Unfortunate Link

Some women sail through life suffering nothing more than the occasional headache, however, this can change for some unfortunate women when they commence birth control treatment. Migraines are linked with forms of birth control that contain hormones. It is the presence of these hormones that appear to trigger the reaction.

Women who suffer migraines as a result of using birth control are often able to predict what point in the menstrual cycle the migraines will strike. As with women who do not take birth control, the few days leading up to the period can be a significant time for headaches along with other premenstrual symptoms such as mood change, abdominal cramps, and bloating. It is the fluctuation of estrogen that is to blame for the unpleasant migraines and can be made worse for women who choose to take the combined (estrogen and progestin)low dose pill.

On the reverse, women who suffer common headaches may lessen the incidence of headaches or in some cases cure them entirely by using oral contraceptive. So the decision to use certain types of contraception should not be taken lightly.

Weighing the Possibilities

For women who are considering having a more ‘long-term’ contraceptive such as Depo-Provera, the Mirena Coil, or the implant, it is essential to establish the likelihood of migraines as a side-effect. Since Mirena remains active for five years, this can be a hefty sentence to live through with unpleasant migraines every month.

There is always the possibility of treating migraines when they about to strike for those women who can predict this. The use of prescribed migraine treatment is an essential action to alleviate the suffering often caused. Even though there is no cure for migraines, treatments now available, particularly those that are prescribed, can offer excellent relief of symptoms and allow many women to lead a near normal life. Management of migraines is best left to a physician who can prescribe optimum treatment for the migraine as well as the form of contraception least or less likely to cause migraines.

There are less problematic methods of contraception particularly where birth control and migraines are concerned. Some women opt for the ‘mini pill,’ which is progestin-based only, and others choose condoms to ensure that no additional hormones are being added to the body. Options do always need to be thoroughly discussed with a physician first to ensure that the chosen method is suitable.