Do Birth Control Pills Cause Migraine – Discover If There Is A Connection

Do birth control pills cause migraine or is it something else? These pills are not all simple and easy. They can cause a variety of side effects. The pills have been known to cause side effects which include weight gain, nausea, back ache, and headache among others. Recent studies point to the fact that these pills can sometimes trigger migraines.

How Do Birth Control Pills Cause Migraine?

If you are wondering how do birth control pills cause a migraine, the answer is relatively easy. These pills interfere with the hormone production which in turn becomes a trigger for migraines.  Hormonal changes around pregnancy, during the menstrual cycle and menopause are periods of a women’s life when migraine occurrences spike. The oral contraceptives which have found favor with millions of women across the globe do indeed cause migraines in some cases.

Medical experts linked migraines in women to hormonal imbalance. Taking birth control pills, which have estrogen as its main component, creates some imbalance in the woman’s hormones thus triggering migraines. Again these same imbalances occur during menopause which is also a time when women are more susceptible to migraines.

According to the American Association of Reproductive Health (AAPH) women who experienced migraines during their periods prior to taking the oral contraceptive would find that the frequency of the attack is lower owing to the increase in the levels of estrogen after they use birth control pills.

If Birth Control Pills Cause Migraines - What Is The Alternative

Usually your doctor would perform a number of tests and if you are found to be sensitive to the composition of your oral contraceptives, another method of birth control should be considered or you might try a lower dose of oral contraceptives.

Birth control pills can definitely lead to migraines yet it is impossible to say who will be affected. So you should take some precautions if you find you suffer from migraines when you are on contraceptives. The best would be to discuss with your doctor about suitable alternatives which would prevent the symptoms developing into full blown migraines.

Your medical history is very important while deciding what type of oral contraceptives would be the best for you. Therefore try to provide your doctor with as much information as you could on past medical problems and treatments.  In case the frequency of your migraines reduces after changing the type of oral contraceptives, it would confirm that the answer to the question of "do birth control pills cause migraines" is positive – at least in your case.

Always be willing to try something different if discover something that is triggering migraines. Be open and willing to consider possible triggers that you might not have considered before. Ultimately you need to find a long term way of preventing or avoiding these headaches.