BCP and migranes

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2003
BCP and migranes
9
Sun, 04-23-2006 - 1:28am

When I am on the pill, I get a migrane 3 days after the start of my period, every month. My doctor says this is unusual. Most of the time when women get migranes while on the pill, it is while they are still taking the hormone, not when they are menstrating. I originally went on the pill because my period is very irregular. The fact that it prevents pregnancy is a bonus and a lot less intrusive than female non-hormonal BC. I went off last May, due to the headaches. I started on a new pill in Feb and got the worst migrane yet. I visited the gyno and she said that the patch or ring might help, due to the fact that I wouldn't be digesting the hormone. I chose the patch(the ring is not covered on my insurance). I haven't gotten my period since Feb and gyno did a pg test in March when I got my perscription. It was negative. So, I haven't been able to start the patch yet. Is it true that the patch will alieviate my migranes or will I not be able to use hormonal BC? Anything you can tell me will be a big help.

Thanks!
Erin

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-02-2004
In reply to: erin529
Sun, 04-23-2006 - 1:42am

Hey Erin,

I had a similar problem on the pill. I would get awful headaches during my placebo week from the estrogen withdraw. My doctor said this was a pretty common side effect depending on how much estrogen is in whatever pill you are using. I tried tri-cycling on a lower dose pill, Mircette, it also has a small amount of estrogen in the placebo pills. My headaches did go away. Unfortuantely, I had some other not so desirable side effects. I currently have a Mirena IUD and have no problems with headaches.

Since the patch is a low dose method maybe it will help.

Good Luck,
Allison

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
In reply to: erin529
Sun, 04-23-2006 - 1:15pm

Hi erin529, welcome!


      Jill

    

Avatar for ilovemyfeet
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
In reply to: erin529
Sun, 04-23-2006 - 4:31pm
I had the same problems with ortho-tri cyclin, ortho evera and the nuva ring. mine started usually the day of my first plasibo pill and would last any where from 7-10 days it was so horable they were increadably bad migraines they did get a little slee sever with the evera and the nuva ring but they never went away my dr tried telling me it was in my head he also hinted at it with my other side affects/problems that i had with BC. I finally got fed up and just stoped taking it Dh used condomes for a while and i feel alot better but i still think my hormones are screwey i dont feel like i used to and i still have the pain during sex that started when i went on the bc. Now were hoping for baby number one. let me know if you find something that works for you im not shure if im going to go back on bc after we have a baby or not. hugs julie
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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2003
In reply to: erin529
Sun, 04-23-2006 - 10:47pm

Thanks for the suggestions, ladies ;) I really did want to do the ring, but not sure how much that will be w/o insurance(it's not covered, stupid Cigna). I know they don't recommend any kind of IUD if you haven't had kids yet, so that's out for me. I will try the patch for the first month. If it still gives me the headaches, I will chat with the gyno about other options. Thanks again!

Erin

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-16-2005
In reply to: erin529
Mon, 04-24-2006 - 9:13pm

I have a different question on the same subject:

I've been having migraine-grade headaches every day for about two months. Three doctors don't know the cause yet--I have a CT scan scheduled and am on prescription pain meds.

I would like to know if I could eliminate my BC pills as a cause (I take Orthocyclen) beacuse the headaches are everyday, and could not be linked to estrogen withdrawl? I've been on the pill 9 months, and this is a new occurance.

Thanks!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-27-2004
In reply to: erin529
Tue, 08-08-2006 - 12:34am
I know exactly what you are talking about! I had some dizzyness since I had a really bad illness when I was 11. Id been trying to get docs to listen to me about it and they wouldn't, then i went on the pill in hs and off in college, it made me depressive. then i got nuvaring, it was great, and then it made me hellishly sick and i couldn't take it any more. I feel better now that Im off, so much better. But i still haven't gotten my period after 1 month and a half and i'm not preggers, did this happen to you>
Avatar for ilovemyfeet
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
In reply to: erin529
Tue, 08-08-2006 - 5:42am
my second cycle off BC was super long like 2 months i believe it was i though for shure i was pregnant Dh had just deployed to Iraq and i thought what a great thing for him to look foward to comming home about.(we had just started TTC). turns out no baby my body was just trying to adjust to getting off the BC. I still get migranes but they arnt as bad and dont last as long as they did when i was On BC. and but unfortunatily i have been un able to get pregnant and the doc cant find anything wrong. we have been TTC for over a year now if you count the few months before DH deployed and i still dont have a baby. Im definatly regretting the BC. i just keep thinking their has to be a link between the two and i still dont feel totally like my self something seems off but the Dr tells me everything is fine. i think it just really got my hormones out of wack from what they were origionally and i wish they would go back the worst part is i still dont have any libdo at all. where i had tones of it before i went on bc. let me know if ya have any more questions or anything
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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-12-2002
In reply to: erin529
Wed, 08-09-2006 - 12:40am

Hi there.


I just wanted to jump in and say that if you still haven't come right after being on BCP, and you still haven't got your libido back, then it is probably something other than the BCP causing the problems.


Have you had your hormone levels tested?

 


 


Avatar for ilovemyfeet
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
In reply to: erin529
Wed, 08-09-2006 - 4:23am
iv already been to a fertility doc. iv had hormone levels checked thyroid glucose hsg iv been poked and proded a ton. My hormones dont apear to be the problem. so far everything has come back ok on me. I just dont feel like i did before i went on BC i never used ot have cramps and now i do. thats about the only thing thats really changed about my cycle the doc even said it doesent make any since as to why were not getting pregnant. hes got me on clomid right now to see if that will help but so far no luck.
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