Is headache a side effect of birth control pills?

Others find that birth control pills and other hormonal birth control methods, such as the patch or vaginal ring, cause migraines. If you get headaches and take birth control pills, your headaches may be due to the drop in estrogen that occurs during the days when you take the inactive or placebo pills.

Why does my birth control give me headaches?

For some women, headaches are a birth control side effect, especially at first. The estrogen in combination birth control can cause a sudden flurry in headache or migraine activity, but they tend to subside as your body gets used to the increased overall hormone levels.

Does oral contraceptives cause headache?

Although combined oral contraceptives (COCs) are a safe and highly effective method of birth control, they may also give rise to problems of clinical tolerability in migraine patients. Indeed, headache is among the most common side effects reported with the use of COCs, frequently leading to their being discontinued.

What to do if you get headaches on the pill?

Talk to your doctor if you think your contraceptive pills are making your migraines worse. If you have headaches during the days you do not take the pills, you can avoid the sudden fall in oestrogen by taking several packs continuously without a break.

What birth control doesn’t cause headaches?

Nonhormonal birth control There are other types of birth control that don’t involve hormones. These nonhormonal birth control methods aren’t linked to migraine symptoms or relief. These include: surgical procedures, like vasectomies for men and tubal ligation for women.

What birth control pill is best for migraine sufferers?

A progestin-only pill like Norethindrone is a safe birth control option for women who have ever had a migraine with aura. Women who experience migraine with aura are at increased risk of stroke when taking birth control containing estrogen, which is why progestin-only pills are recommended.

What do hormone headaches feel like?

Menstrual Migraines (Hormone Headaches) A menstrual migraine (or hormone headache) starts before or during a woman’s period and can happen every month. Common symptoms include a dull throbbing or severe pulsing headache, sensitivity to light, nausea, fatigue, dizziness and more.

Why can’t you take birth control with migraines?

For women who suffer from migraines with aura, taking combined oral contraceptives heightens their stroke risk even more. It’s specifically the hormone estrogen in the oral contraceptive that can cause a stroke. “Estrogen has properties that can cause your blood to clot easier,” Rao says.

Does birth control contribute to my headaches?

The hormones in birth control pills may cause headaches . Some birth control pills contain hormones that prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs. Other types of pill make it more difficult for the egg to implant in the uterine lining. Some people are sensitive to the hormones in birth control pills, especially estrogen.

Why does my birth control pill give me a headache?

Birth control pills aren’t strictly to blame for this. Whether you’re taking birth control pills or not, the reduction in estrogen that accompanies menstrual bleeding may put your body into a kind of hormonal withdrawal. Both combination birth control pills and progestin-only pills may cause headaches as a side effect.

How bad are your birth control side effects?

Other side effects include nausea and bloating , but these tend to ease up after a couple of weeks as your body gets used to the extra hormones. If you have a history of gallstones, taking birth control may lead to faster formation of stones. There’s also an increased risk of benign liver tumors or liver cancer.

What are the side effects of going off birth control?

Common side effects of stopping birth control can include: Irregular periods. Hormonal acne. Mood swings. Heavy, painful periods.