Migraines and Birth Control: Is Your Birth Control Causing Migraine?
Hormonal birth control options, such as pills, patches, rings, implants, and shots, can cause numerous side effects in women, including headaches.
But is there any connection between Migraines and birth control?
As per the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention, around 43% of American women have to deal with Migraines at certain points in their lives, and many of them are at reproductive age.
However, for some women, birth control can provide relief from Migraines, whereas in others, birth control can elevate the pain.
Therefore, this brief introduction makes it understandable that the debate between Migraines and birth control is contradictory and can have non-coherent opinions.
This comprehensive article will elucidate the impact of birth control on women with Migraines and how the symptoms can be alleviated.
Relation between Migraines and birth control
Migraine is a genetically influenced complex disorder characterized by episodes of moderate to severe headaches.
These headaches are associated with nausea and increased light and sound sensitivity.
There are two types of Migraines, such as:
- Migraine without aura: It is distinct from other headaches as a benign and recurrent syndrome of headache, vomiting, nausea, and neurologic dysfunction symptoms
- Migraine with aura: It includes the sensory symptoms, such as neurologic, gastrointestinal, and autonomic, which occur before or during a Migraine episode. These symptoms are blind spots, flashes of light, and tingling on the face
It happens due to the complex intertwined relationship between Estrogen levels in the body and Migraines.
As per Hopkins Medicine, a headache can be triggered by steep fluctuations in Estrogen levels.
Therefore, women tend to have headaches or Migraines at the onset of the menstrual cycle, Menopause, and hysterectomy.
Further, as per a 2010 bulletin in the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, continuous hormonal contraceptives can eliminate the drop in Estrogen levels.
Thus, hormonal birth control can relieve the chances of Migraines.
Moreover, in 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention implemented updates to the medical eligibility criteria for the use of birth control.
As per this update, women who have Migraine without aura can use birth control without any limitations.
However, for women who have Migraine with aura, the risks associated with birth control use outweigh the benefits.
Can birth control cause Migraines
Yes, birth control can cause Migraines in women by worsening the headache.
However, for some women, birth control can alleviate the symptoms of Migraine by maintaining levels of Estrogen.
As per a 2023 report, among women with Migraine using hormonal birth control, the following results were observed:
| Observed results after hormonal contraceptives | Percentage of women |
|---|---|
| improvement of the condition | 3% to 35% women |
| Reported worsening of the condition | 18% to 50% women |
| No changes in Migraine frequency | 39% to 65% women |
18% to 50% reported worsening and 3% to 35% improvement of the condition.
In contrast, 39% to 65% of women reported no change in Migraine frequency after hormonal contraception.
It usually depends on the dosage of Estrogen levels in the birth control.
When issued for the first time in the 1960s, birth control pills were all high in Estrogen dosage, containing up to 150 micrograms of Mestranol.
However, the dose of Estrogen was substantially reduced in the following decades.Â
As of now, the pills contain only ten micrograms of Ethinyl Estradiol, with high-dose pills containing only 50 micrograms of Estrogen dose.
How birth control affects Migraine symptoms
As per the American Migraine Foundation, in women with preexisting Migraines, birth control options with Estrogen can steadily improve headaches.
However, in some cases, it can worsen the headache and should be diagnosed carefully to prevent the risks of exacerbating headaches.
According to a study in the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine 2017, combined hormonal birth control is contraindicated in women who have Migraine with aura.
It can elevate the risks of stroke in women with an increase in Estrogen components.
Additionally, women with Migraines with aura who take birth control pills and have a history of smoking further escalate the risk of stroke and Cardiovascular Disease.
How long do birth control Migraines last
After starting birth control, such as pills, women can have some side effects for the first few months of birth control.
According to the Mayo Clinic, headaches can occur during the first month of taking a hormonal contraceptive.Â
The symptom can resolve on its own once the body gets adapted to the hormonal levels after taking birth control pills.
Best birth control for Migraine sufferers
The birth control that can be safe for Migraine with and without aura sufferers includes the following contraceptives:
- Progestin-only birth control pills
- Arm implant
- Barrier methods, such as condoms, spermicide, etc
- Copper Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)
- Emergency contraception, as they only contain Progestin
However, for people with Migraines without aura, birth control with Estrogen, such as combination pills, patches, hormonal IUDs, etc, can be prescribed.
Women can consult a healthcare practitioner and seek medical attention to access Migraine treatment depending on their personal history to avoid complications.
Conclusion
Migraine is a complex disorder caused by episodes of moderate to severe headaches.
There are two types of Migraines. i.e., Migraine with and Migraine without aura, and occurs due to a complex relationship with Estrogen levels in the body.
There is much scientific evidence that claims that birth control causes Migraine due to high Estrogen levels. In contrast, for others, it can alleviate Migraine symptoms.
Further, for women who have Migraine with aura, combined birth control can elevate the risks of stroke and Cardiovascular Diseases (CAD).
After starting birth control, women can have side effects for a few months and disappear on their own once the body gets adapted to the hormonal level.
However, if the situation persists, women should consult a healthcare practitioner to either change birth control or stop using it.
Further, women with Migraine with aura and without aura can take Progestin-only pills, Copper IUDs, and emergency contraception.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does birth control cause Migraines?
The answer to whether birth control causes Migraine can be contradictory. For some women, birth control can alleviate the symptoms of Migraine by maintaining Estrogen levels in the body. However, for women with Migraine with aura, Estrogen-containing birth control can worsen the symptoms.
What is the best birth control for Migraine sufferers?
The birth control that can be safe for people with Migraine with or without aura includes Progestin-only contraceptive pills. Further, arm implants, Copper Intrauterine Devices (IUDs), and emergency contraceptives are reliable for most people. However, people with Migraine without aura can use any contraceptives.
How long do birth control Migraines last?
After initiating birth control, such as pills, women can have headaches for the first month of the contraceptives. The symptoms can disappear once the body gets adapted to the hormonal changes after taking birth control.
Should I stop taking birth control if I get Migraines?
No, you should not stop taking birth control if you have Migraines. Many birth controls can be taken if a person has Migraine without aura. However, in the case of Migraines with aura, consult a healthcare practitioner and take prescribed birth control only, such as Progestin-only pills and Copper IUD.
How birth control affects Migraine symptoms
As per the American Migraine Foundation, in women with preexisting Migraines, birth control options with Estrogen can steadily improve headaches.
However, in some cases, it can worsen the headache and should be diagnosed carefully to prevent the risks of exacerbating headaches.
According to a study in the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine 2017, combined hormonal birth control is contraindicated in women who have Migraine with aura.
It can elevate the risks of stroke in women with an increase in Estrogen components.
Additionally, women with Migraines with aura who take birth control pills and have a history of smoking further escalate the risk of stroke and Cardiovascular Disease.
How long do birth control Migraines last
After starting birth control, such as pills, women can have some side effects for the first few months of birth control.
According to the Mayo Clinic, headaches can occur during the first month of taking a hormonal contraceptive.Â
The symptom can resolve on its own once the body gets adapted to the hormonal levels after taking birth control pills.
Best birth control for Migraine sufferers
The birth control that can be safe for Migraine with and without aura sufferers includes the following contraceptives:
- Progestin-only birth control pills
- Arm implant
- Barrier methods, such as condoms, spermicide, etc
- Copper Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)
- Emergency contraception, as they only contain Progestin
However, for people with Migraines without aura, birth control with Estrogen, such as combination pills, patches, hormonal IUDs, etc, can be prescribed.
Women can consult a healthcare practitioner and seek medical attention to access Migraine treatment depending on their personal history to avoid complications.
Conclusion
Migraine is a complex disorder caused by episodes of moderate to severe headaches.
There are two types of Migraines. i.e., Migraine with and Migraine without aura, and occurs due to a complex relationship with Estrogen levels in the body.
There is much scientific evidence that claims that birth control causes Migraine due to high Estrogen levels. In contrast, for others, it can alleviate Migraine symptoms.
Further, for women who have Migraine with aura, combined birth control can elevate the risks of stroke and Cardiovascular Diseases (CAD).
After starting birth control, women can have side effects for a few months and disappear on their own once the body gets adapted to the hormonal level.
However, if the situation persists, women should consult a healthcare practitioner to either change birth control or stop using it.
Further, women with Migraine with aura and without aura can take Progestin-only pills, Copper IUDs, and emergency contraception.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does birth control cause Migraines?
The answer to whether birth control causes Migraine can be contradictory. For some women, birth control can alleviate the symptoms of Migraine by maintaining Estrogen levels in the body. However, for women with Migraine with aura, Estrogen-containing birth control can worsen the symptoms.
What is the best birth control for Migraine sufferers?
The birth control that can be safe for people with Migraine with or without aura includes Progestin-only contraceptive pills. Further, arm implants, Copper Intrauterine Devices (IUDs), and emergency contraceptives are reliable for most people. However, people with Migraine without aura can use any contraceptives.
How long do birth control Migraines last?
After initiating birth control, such as pills, women can have headaches for the first month of the contraceptives. The symptoms can disappear once the body gets adapted to the hormonal changes after taking birth control.
Should I stop taking birth control if I get Migraines?
No, you should not stop taking birth control if you have Migraines. Many birth controls can be taken if a person has Migraine without aura. However, in the case of Migraines with aura, consult a healthcare practitioner and take prescribed birth control only, such as Progestin-only pills and Copper IUD.
