Hormonal contraception use

Hormonal contraception methods, such as birth control pills, patches or vaginal rings, might change your headache patterns, improving or worsening them. For some, hormonal contraception can help reduce the frequency and severity of menstrual-related migraines by minimizing the drop in estrogen associated with the menstrual cycle.

Using hormonal contraception to prevent menstrual-related migraines might be appropriate for women who haven't been helped by other methods and for women who don't have migraine with aura. Migraine with aura comes with sensory disturbances such as flashes of light, blind spots or other vision changes; tingling in your hand or face; and rarely, difficulty using language (aphasia) or weakness on one side of your body.

Women who have migraine with aura are generally advised not to use estrogen-containing contraception. If you have migraine with aura, talk to your doctor about contraception options.

Other women might develop migraines while using hormonal contraception, although the migraine might occur only in the first cycle. Talk to your doctor if that happens to you.

Tips for using hormonal contraception:

• Use a monthly birth control pill pack with fewer inactive (placebo) days.
• Eliminate the placebo days completely from most months by taking extended-cycle estrogen-progestin birth control pills (Loseasonique, Seasonique).
• Use birth control pills that have a lower dose of estrogen to reduce the drop in estrogen during the placebo days.
• Take NSAIDs and triptans during the placebo days.
• Take a low dose of estrogen pills or wear an estrogen patch during the placebo days.
• Use an estrogen-containing skin patch during the placebo days if you're using a birth control patch.
• Take the minipill if you're not able to take estrogen-progestin birth control pills. The minipill is a progestin-only birth control pill (Camila, Heather, others).