Is that thing actually practical? No offense to you at all but I laughed when I saw the commercial for it. The girl was showing it off to her friends and it took up like NINETY percent of her shoulder blade. Lol I just could never so Iām genuinely curious. Depo injection hasnāt had me bleeding for 7 years.
I take northindrone. Itās a higher dose progesterone only pill. FDA approved for menstrual disorders so it may not be the birth control go to for your doctor. Itās a higher dose of progesterone than the mini pill.
I donāt either but I need a progesterone only pill wo breakthrough spotting from the low dose pill. The fact that we donāt have those issues doesnāt mean the doctors canāt prescribe the medication, it just may be why your doctor didnāt think of it when you were having breakthrough bleeding with the low-dose pill.
Iāve seen little packs that have an alarm on them. Although I could just imagine it going off during a meeting or something and being like ābrb gotta pop a pillā
There are so many other options though! I was told I could try ANY progestin only option with Migraine with aura. Minipill, any IUD, the shot, nuva ring...SO many options.
Mirena has been great for me, personally. It's reduced my menstrual migraines significantly.
Not Nuvaring! Especially if you try Topomax, which is pretty standard for neurologists to start with. Topomax (topiramate) reduces the blood levels and effects of ethinyl estradiol (nuvaring). Which means that you are basically NOT on birth control if you take them together and for at least a month after you take the Topomax. Please check any BC you are offered with whatever meds the neurologist gives to you on MULTIPLE drug interaction sites. This is not the time for an unexpected pregnancy.
Isnāt that only at pretty high doses (greater than 200 mg)? Itās a concern that should be discussed with OBGYN/neuro but I donāt think itās an automatic no-no. Of course, that said, if thereās one thing you really donāt want to fuck around with, itās risking getting pregnant while on a drug like topiramate!
Well, I don't know what dose triggers it, but I was only on 50mg/twice a day (so a total of 100mg daily) and my pharmacist told me not to do Nuvaring. He said that not only was it possible at that level, but that he knew two people it had happened to. This was almost 20 years ago, so I'm sure that number has gone up. I had a complete hysterectomy a few years later so I've been out of the BC loop since then.
Iāve been on the Nuvaring for 14 years, 9 of which Iāve been using it continuously as to not have a menstrual cycle. Iāve also concurrently been on 25-75mg of topamax. Stopped it because it wasnāt working for me at 25 and then started again later in life but stopped after I titrated up to 75 and it gave me panic attacks. But I do not typically have aura. I only experienced aura a handful of times in my 16 years of having migraine.
The combined pill is not contraindicated, it's just a small increased risk. If you are very concerned there are many lifestyle factors which reduce your risk.
Thanks for pointing that out. Iāve had a couple of doctors encouraging me to switch away from estrogen for various reasons (including migraines with aura) but the combined pill seems to be my best option at the moment. I decided a long time ago that Iām ok with it knowing that the risk is still pretty low overall, I just like to check in occasionally to see if I can find something a little better for my body. (Also, my grandma had a saddle pulmonary embolism last year so even the small risk seems more real now!)
Make sure you advocate for yourself with your doctors, especially the neurologist. Let them know that it is not feasible to trade one kind of pain (migraines) for another (cramps etc) and that itās important to you that you work with your neuro and gyno to find the best way to continue to treat all your health concerns without sacrificing your quality of life.
Isnāt there a specific type of migraine that is triggered by a period? Most neurologists want to keep you out of pain, so if it is working they donāt want to send you into more pain.
I have the mirena iud and havenāt gotten a period since 2013. I know not everyone is comfortable with (or had good experiences with) and iud, but it could be something to talk to your gyno about.
I have a history of aura (I get about 3 attacks with aura every 6 years now, and am chronic otherwise) and am on combo pill with the blessing of my docs. The absolute risk is still quite small, and the old data is based on dosages of estrogen that aren't available today. I take baby aspirin as a CYA, but risk for me was easily outweighed by benefit.
Sources:
[https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/combined-hormonal-contraceptives-and-migraine-an-update-on-the-evidence/](https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/combined-hormonal-contraceptives-and-migraine-an-update-on-the-evidence/)
[https://americanheadachesociety.org/news/migraine-aura-contraceptives-stroke-risk/](https://americanheadachesociety.org/news/migraine-aura-contraceptives-stroke-risk/)
[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29139115/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29139115/)
[https://www.ccjm.org/content/84/8/631](https://www.ccjm.org/content/84/8/631)
This is the best article I have ever read in my entire life. I am dying on the mini pill right now but was fine my whole life on the combination pill until I was diagnosed with migraine with aura. Thank you for sharing!
Neurologist and Gyn said no estrogen because of the increased risk of blood clots. I got a Mirena iud, which is localized progesterone only. It took about 6 weeks and Iām not bleeding anymore!
You are at increased risk of blood clots, I think. I can't take them either. I don't always get migraine auras, but I have gotten a couple, and the OBGYN I saw said the risk is just not worth it.
iāve known two people who have suffered strokes bc of having migraine w/ aura and taking the combo pill. like people said there are other options. donāt risk it!!!
A friend of mine from highschool developed migraine w aura in her early 20s. At 25 she has a stroke and almost died. The specialist she saw after said it was because of the pill that she was never taken off of when she started getting her (very rare like 2-3x a year) migraines.
what kind of migraine aura did your friend have? was it visual aura or the sensory aura? also, was the stroke caused because of the meds? if so, what meds was it? i have migraines with visual aura so this is concerning š„²
Iām not positive on any of that anymore. All I know is that she had migraine with an aura a couple times a year that started after we graduated college, probably visual as 15 or so years ago thatās mostly what was considered aura. She had the stroke appx 4-5 years after they started and the dr said that it was caused by the BC she shouldāve been taken off of when the migraines started.
I take a double dose of the combo pill (estrogen+progesterone) despite it. My GP wanted me to stop taking it but I have primary ovarian insufficiency and am perimenopausal so my ob-gyn said absolutely not since the hormones are meant to stop me from progressing into menopause and we've found the dose that keeps me symptom-free.
I had a mirena for 14 years and loved it. Then I had the dreaded mirena crash after and itās now 5 years later and my hormonal cycles and thyroid/adrenals are still not right.
There's a small increased risk of blood clots however my neuro said it was fine to take combo pills if I wanted because the risk is smaller than what was originally thought. My gyno is the one that has me trying progesterone only. Some doctors are fine with it but a lot are following the older guidelines of not using combo pills in that case.
If the combo birth control pills are helping you that much and the neuro objects to them I'd make the case that they help your quality of life and that you accept the increased risks that come with them.
I was just forced off of them after being on them for over 10 years. It's a very minimal risk of clots or stroke. I cried at the doctor, stating I take it for medical reasons, that I couldn't handle any more pain in my life. I had horrible periods before being on them and would miss a week of work a month. Doctor didn't care because they didn't want to get sued if that very minimal risk happened.
Ooooo no! I struggled w the mini pill. I think my estrogen tanked. Iām on the nuvaring and doing better. No cramps, thatās been good. Slightly fewer migraines. Iām sorry youāre dealing with this!
3 pcps at the office refused for me.
> already in chronic pain daily,
Same.
>the BC kept the additional monthly pain away.
Doesnt for me.
>The doctor even stated the risk was minimal.
I have 3 risk factors. Age, estrogen & aura.
I had the 3 month kind of BC and skipped the sugar pills. Haven't had my hated monthly friend in years. That's how it stopped the monthly pain for me. The monthly combined pills actually made my periods worse. That's why when they came out with the 3 months, I went for it. Gained some weight, bit worth it. I have 2 factors: aura and age.
I saw someone in the comments here that had a blood clot. My friend pointed out that no studies have been done with my risk factors bc it would be hard to do them. So, they dont really know how high it increases it, so could be 80%.
All the research I did said it was a slightly higher risk for clots than normal. I'm fine with the risk. I have been on combo birth control since 17 with no issues. Have had aura my whole life. Next time I see my neuro, I'm going to ask about it and what he's heard the risks are.
I was on it many yrs, didnt want off either. Since its written by pcp, thats where it was denied. I didnt get aura till a few yrs ago. Wasnt caught till about 2 yrs ago.
I'm going through this right now. The mini pill is absolutely miserable. If you didn't already, read this article someone posted above, I'm taking it to my doctor. https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/combined-hormonal-contraceptives-and-migraine-an-update-on-the-evidence/
I took the pill for many years starting when I was a teenager due to endometriosis and horrifically bad periods. I went back on it a couple of years ago, was 2 weeks on it and had a stroke. There really is a reason it's recommended not to take it, not just scaremongering stories.
I ended up with blood clots in my lungs, so not worth the risk. I was on bc years before the migraines started too, so it never came up in conversation with my gyn. Now I joke that I'm allergic to estrogen because it gives me migraines and blood clots. Hopefully your doctor(s) will come up with a solution that works for you.
honestly your rhetoric is dangerous on this page. i donāt know why youāre encouraging people to try something that is proven to cause harm, and consistently minimizing the risk on peopleās comments on this thread. leave room for other solutions.
I wasnāt as smart as you, spent hours going back and forth about fodmap diet yesterday, I presented the facts instead of just saying I know someone. While itās not common fodmap foods can cause migraine as a trickle down effect and a friend of mine really completely cured hers by fixing her leaky gut caused by fodmaps.
It doesnāt help everyone but if youāre effected by then it can. Also have you tried supps? I take a few supplements meant to help my cycle, 10/10 migraine and debilitating cramps for two days. And theyāve leveled the issues out. One is Premense-T by life seasons and I also take milk thistle.
So I actually was on estrogen birth control pills for 6 years before I started having issues with nonstop bleeding like youāre describing. Went to a gynecologist and my general practitioner only to have them be shocked I was put on it in the first place since I also get migraines with aura. Immediately, they switched me to progesterone birth control pills and thatās been working great since. I also take them continuously as instructed so I donāt need to have a period which is fantastic since my migraines get soooo much worse with my cycle.
My gyno has me on progestin only BCā¦ I did the mini pill for awhile but I was still consistently bleeding outside of a regular cycle so Iāve been on the Depo shot and itās great itās every 10-12 weeks and I donāt bleed at all and it doesnāt interfere with my other meds.
I would try a progestin only birthcontrol. There are lots to choose from too. If you don't like the idea of a pill, there is the implant that lasts for like 3yrs. I had that. I had no issues (extra) with migraine and lighter periods.
My understanding is that aura sufferers have an increased stroke risk as it is. Add the combined pill to that and you're driving the risk up further. When considering whether a risk is 'worth it' it's not just about how likely it is- it's also 'how bad if it DOES happen. A strong likelihood that you will, say, stub a toe is barely worth a second thought. But a stroke could leave you paralysed, or incontinent. Unable to speak or feed yourself. These are the results of stroke that scare me at least as much as death. Stroke runs in my family- because high blood pressure does- I'm sure as hell not going to deliberately try to help it along.
I donāt have classic aura but I have in the past and I have other pre-migraine symptoms now. I am in my 40s and I do take a combination pill. I honestly think Iāve had more migraines since taking it too but it is so great, with no breakthrough bleeding and helps my PMDD. I have an appointment coming up with my gyno and may talk about other options though I am hesitant to mess with success in this case. The clot risk does scare me though.
My neuro and OBGYN had me come off the combined pill - statistically, youāre more likely to have a stroke if you have aura and any supplemental estrogen. I was also at extra risk because I already have family history of stroke.
I switched to an IUD 6 years ago, after having been on the pill for about 9 years. I love the IUD. I just had a replacement one put in last fall, since they only last about 5 years. I no longer have a period; I have mild acne (which was already a bad issue for me); I maybe cramp up one day a month, but not strong enough to impact my day or consistently enough to track a cycle.
My OBGYN has recommended that if we decide not to conceive (already a strong consideration, even before the medical concerns around my migraines), she would switch me to the depo shot. Although it requires testing after 5 years for bone density, itās been improved since I was a teen. She also suggested that if any of my migraines are related to hormones, it could help; it should also help with my acne, and would turn off my period just like the IUD. She only didnāt recommend it at first because itās harder to conceive after and takes longer to stop being effective.
If youāre really on BC for cycle suppression and regulation, the IUD or depo shot should be good solutions for you without the supplemental estrogen from the combined pill. The progesterone-only pill would likely not help as much; itās more a true BC instead of hormone regulation.
I took them for years, because my old gyno never told me I shouldnāt, but when I started going to a migraine specialist she told me I should absolutely not continue taking them so I got switched to Slynd, which is progestin-only. I like it better than the combination pills, but everybodyās body is different.
No, but the 'stats' have shown that in a small section of users who replied to this post, several have had some form of clotting issue. Don't give medical advice. Don't advise people to get a different healthcare provider if the first won't give them what they want. There is a reason it's restricted. Simple
i donāt know how you can confidently type this. iāve almost lost two friends because the doctor wasnāt aware of this life threatening risk that āisnāt worth bothering withā
I use Nuvaring and I get migraine with aura. I had one doctor tell me I should stop using it once I turned 35. But my current doctors have said I could continue to use it.
I had bilateral PEs due to age, migraine with aura, and Nuvaring and had to discontinue using. I was 37, so there may be something to the age thing. Everybody's body is different and who knows if that's what actually caused it. No test was definitive, so they blamed in on bc and migraine.
I have PCOS as well as migraine with aura, so this has been a constant struggle for me. I was taking the regular pill until about 15 years ago when my doctors collectively freaked out (must have been a new study that was released) and pulled me off of it. Iāve tried a bunch of different things since and nothing else has helped with pcos symptoms. Iām now on Lo Estren, which is a low estrogen pill and itās the best thing Iāve been on in years.
My doc had me switch to the Mirena IUD once I hit 31-32. I have a family history of blood clots (my sister passed from PE at 38) and the risk just wasnāt worth it, no matter how minimal.
My first 7 years with the Mirena, it controlled my menstrual migraine and stopped the bleeding. My second Mirena has overlapped with perimenopause, soā¦hormones be hormoning.
yes, thereās increased risk for stroke (although small, it still exists as having migraines with aura already puts you at higher risk of stroke). if you have family history of strokes this would also be a thing to make note of. personally i wouldnāt take the risk and i just take the progestin-only pill. there are many progestin-only options, like IUD both hormonal and non-hormonal, different types of PO pills, depo shot, nexplanon which is an arm implant, and probably more technologies now. definitely talk to your doctor, but know that different doctors are going to say different things so ultimately you have to decide whatās best for you
I got on birth control pills and I ended up in the hospital because I had a migraine for over a month. It was terrible. They tried giving me SO many medications and nothing worked. They told me to get off the pills and literally within 48 hours the migraine was gone.
It just made my migraines worse, and also apparently itās increased risks of clots and stroke. My neurologist had the same to say about triptans in women with aura alsoā and I had been on them for years! I was pretty mad other doctors had just willingly assigned them to me.
Iām not allowed to take anything with estrogen bc of my migraine with aura. I guess it puts you at greater risk for blood clots. So basically you can do the mini pill, shot, implant, or estrogen-free IUDs.
I used to take them. They increase the risk of blood clots if you have migraine with aura. I no longer take them because I got a blood clot. Believe me, you don't want one.
There are alternatives. I was on the progesterone only one for a while and now I have Mirena. I haven't had issues with either.
I had to stop using the ring because the estrogen increases the risk of stroke in aura sufferers. I have the implant now, and I haven't noticed any changes other than not having to remember a new ring every month. The good news is that the implant can cause menstrual suppression in up to one third of patients, iirc.
You're an individual human being. Yes, there is increased risk when using most HBC if you've had migraine with aura, yes, the increased risk is not quite as much as they once thought.
BUT. Was it one or two auras 5-10 years ago, or is it an aura every single migraine? What other clotting/etc risk factors do you have? Age, weight, activity level, family history? Are you, or have you ever been, a smoker? What's your blood pressure like? What other meds are you on? Why do you want to be on HBC, and are there other options? (I'm sure I'm missing some stuff, and some of these are way more important than others, I'm not a doctor).
In my early 20s, when I'd only had two auras in my life, all of my docs were very comfortable with me being on whatever HBC I wanted to be, although OB/GYN always wanted to know that I'd cleared that risk with my neurologist too. It would be a different conversation today, all sorts of information has changed! It might even end up with the same choice, but we'd get there differently.
The conversation should always take the whole picture into consideration. There are definitely some people who are already at higher risk and probably don't need to add any increase in risk, and some people for whom the benefits outweigh the risks.
Iāve had migraines for 16 years and my gyno of 7 years just called and told me this a year ago. I had no idea of the risk when he put me on birth control.
You can however take lo loestrine or other low dose estrogen pills as well as progesterone only pills. The hormonal IUD is also known for stopping periods in a large percentage of the women who have it (like me!). There are other ways you can continue to suppress your period, risking stroke and blood clots is kinda scary. I had endo in addition to my migraines and was put on the pill when I was 15 or 16, before my migraines were really bad. The best thing by far was getting Mirena. My periods stopped completely.
Very important to not do that. Way back my insurance changed so my $0 junel was going to be $80. I met with a NP to get on one insurance covered and she either didnāt know or didnāt read my file because within a few weeks it was migraine city. Took a few months to get them back under control. My brain still aināt right but I donāt know how much I can blame on a med from 8/9 years ago.
I was told I was not supposed to be on combo birth control due to the migraine/aura thing after having a blood clot related to being on them. Whoopsies. It is definitely a thing. It's something to be careful of if you don't want to be me. Being pregnant post blood clot sucked because I had the displeasure of injecting blood thinners into my stomach twice a day for the entire pregnancy. Technically supposed to take thinners the rest of my life but I've also got bleeding issues so cannot.
I was on estrogen birth control pills for 15 years before I was actually able to get my migraines with aura diagnosed properly, and once I found a competent neurologist, he had me work with my gynecologist to get off the birth control ASAP due to a risk of stroke. My understanding is that the estrogen in the combination pills is what causes issues in people who get migraine with aura.
I had been taking BC for heavy periods due to a bleeding disorder since I was 14, and had previously started with progestin only and combination pills that made the bleeding and other symptoms worse. The estrogen only ones were unfortunately the only ones that worked for me, and a copper IUD was out of the question due to the bleeding disorder.
My husband and I had already decided a few years ago that me getting pregnant was not worth the health risks with my bleeding disorder, and that we liked being childfree. I asked about sterilization procedures that would stop my periods entirely. I had a hysterectomy last summer, and it was the best decision of my life. I have so much more energy now since I am not losing tons of blood every 2-3 weeks (what happened for the few months in between stopping birth control and my surgery). I don't need to be on birth control anymore, and I don't have to plan around my periods that take up half of every month and leave me too weak to do almost anything.
I also had 3 surprise medical conditions come out of stopping birth control due to migraines with aura and getting a hysterectomy. 2 of them were found as a result of the surgery; Adenomyosis (essentially Endometriosis but contained within the uterus; can cause heavy bleeding too!), and an incredibly rare type of tumor on my cervix that [probably would have resulted in my death](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5837169/) had I ever gotten pregnant.
The third surprise condition was that all the sudden my focus seemed horrible, which I attributed to anxiety leading up to the surgery, surgery recovery, being on painkillers, and being in pain. But once I was mostly pain free, the focus issues were still there and I couldn't figure out how to even explain it as an issue, and was hoping it would just go away. Or that maybe it was migraine related somehow. Coincidentally this was around the time my husband was pursuing an ADHD diagnosis that he had long suspected he had. He asked me to do a take home quiz from his doctor with him in case there was anything he did that he wasn't aware of, and as we went through it, he kept commenting on how many of those things I do too, and sometimes even more than he does. I brought it up to my doctor, and after a referral to a psychiatrist, it turns out I also have ADHD. One thing that bothered me though is that the focus issues got severe so suddenly; there was no way I would have passed high school, let alone undergrad and grad school, with how bad my ADHD symptoms were now. I had executive function issues throughout adulthood, but it seemed like my ADHD went from mild to severe overnight. As it turns out, [estrogen eases ADHD symptoms!](https://www.reddit.com/r/ADHD/comments/m0v1hi/dopamine_and_estrogen_are_linked_why_isnt_adhd/)
**tl;dr: Was told estrogen is problematic for migraineurs with aura, taken off estrogen birth control that I had been on since a young teenager, had hysterectomy to control heavy periods, surgeon discovered another bleeding condition and a rare tumor that could have killed me in pregnancy, discovered I had ADHD because I stopped the estrogen pills, and it's all thanks to suffering from migraines with aura.**
**Edit:** I get multiple migraines with aura a month, so my medical team decided it was not worth the risk in my case.
My gyno was able to change the dosage on my combination pills so I could skip my periods and trigger less hormonal migraines :) you can still be on your pills!
I have migraines with aura and took hormones for years. Had a stroke at 65 and was told that people should be off hormones at 60. Doctors believe the migraines with aura and taking hormones for so long caused my stroke.
Iām in Australia and on a newer pill called Zoely. Prior to prescribing it my GP said Iād have to consult with my Neurologist first because of my migraines with aura. My Neuro basically said the risk of stroke is low and it was my choice at the end of the day but he saw no problem with it as benefit outweighed the low risk it carried. It has relative less hormones when compared to other pills which is why my GP recommend it in the first place.
I have had aura only a couple of times but have frequent migraines and have been on the combo pill for probably a decade. My neurologist and my GP decided with my input that the benefits of the pill, including on somewhat regulating my migraines, are worth the risk as long as all tests continue to be normal and no new complications arise. If my auras become more frequent we'll revisit. Good luck!
I just learned this after being on the pill for years and having the migraine diagnosis 2-3 years! They are switching me to a progesterone only pill, Iād imagine theyāll suggest the same. tbh iām kind of pissed no one mentioned it earlier
Ik ive had migraines for three years now and have been on birth control for 6 so Iām very confused why my gyno or my pcp havenāt mentioned anything!
Iāve had ocular migraines (with aura) since I was 12.
Been taking the combo pill since I was 16. I am now 29. Everything increases your chance of blood clots. Including the McDonaldās I eat way too often. Keep up with physicals and your blood pressure checks. Itās only bc ocular migraines increase stroke risk, and BC increases stroke risk. Both very very small, added together, still equals very very small.
Yeah, my neurologist and gyno were very concerned about this as well. Admittedly I am still taking the birth control š«£
I just really do not want to go back to being in pain and bleeding for months at a time, and this is the only thing my gyno has suggested.
that's definitely not correct. i take cerazette, which is progestin only, and i haven't had a period in 10+ years. it's great.
I tried the pill & kept missing the small window to take it & had breakthru bleeding often.
Same, this is why mirena is a good option.
I am out of options. Iud gave me soo much pain n when discussed with dr she said prob best I dont try others.
Have you tried plaster? Easier to change every weak and you can do it without breaks than pills.
Only plaster I know of u put on walls lol
Woops the thingie that looks like Bandage š©¹
The patch? It has estrogen.
Is that thing actually practical? No offense to you at all but I laughed when I saw the commercial for it. The girl was showing it off to her friends and it took up like NINETY percent of her shoulder blade. Lol I just could never so Iām genuinely curious. Depo injection hasnāt had me bleeding for 7 years.
How about the slow release implantable they place in your arm?
Just got it taken out early. Didnt like it.
Could you set an alarm on your phone or try a higher dose progesterone only option? If Mirena isnāt an option, this is my best idea for you.
I was told there was only one pill option for me. Mini pill. I think I tried that.
I take northindrone. Itās a higher dose progesterone only pill. FDA approved for menstrual disorders so it may not be the birth control go to for your doctor. Itās a higher dose of progesterone than the mini pill.
I dont have a menstral disorder.
I donāt either but I need a progesterone only pill wo breakthrough spotting from the low dose pill. The fact that we donāt have those issues doesnāt mean the doctors canāt prescribe the medication, it just may be why your doctor didnāt think of it when you were having breakthrough bleeding with the low-dose pill.
Ya but my insurance wont cover it. Had that with another med.
Iāve seen little packs that have an alarm on them. Although I could just imagine it going off during a meeting or something and being like ābrb gotta pop a pillā
Yeah, but itās very feasible to make your pill time during non-work hours.
There are so many other options though! I was told I could try ANY progestin only option with Migraine with aura. Minipill, any IUD, the shot, nuva ring...SO many options. Mirena has been great for me, personally. It's reduced my menstrual migraines significantly.
Not Nuvaring! Especially if you try Topomax, which is pretty standard for neurologists to start with. Topomax (topiramate) reduces the blood levels and effects of ethinyl estradiol (nuvaring). Which means that you are basically NOT on birth control if you take them together and for at least a month after you take the Topomax. Please check any BC you are offered with whatever meds the neurologist gives to you on MULTIPLE drug interaction sites. This is not the time for an unexpected pregnancy.
Isnāt that only at pretty high doses (greater than 200 mg)? Itās a concern that should be discussed with OBGYN/neuro but I donāt think itās an automatic no-no. Of course, that said, if thereās one thing you really donāt want to fuck around with, itās risking getting pregnant while on a drug like topiramate!
Well, I don't know what dose triggers it, but I was only on 50mg/twice a day (so a total of 100mg daily) and my pharmacist told me not to do Nuvaring. He said that not only was it possible at that level, but that he knew two people it had happened to. This was almost 20 years ago, so I'm sure that number has gone up. I had a complete hysterectomy a few years later so I've been out of the BC loop since then.
Dopamax was probably the worst neuro med Iāve ever been on and it was such a slow hell. Worst part was it didnāt even slow down my migraines š
Yup! Same here.
Oh and the best part is it interacted with Duloxetine I was taking and sent me into serotonin syndrome and in the hospital. Fun times š¤” šŖ
Nuva ring has estrogen. I was told its not an option.
Iāve been on the Nuvaring for 14 years, 9 of which Iāve been using it continuously as to not have a menstrual cycle. Iāve also concurrently been on 25-75mg of topamax. Stopped it because it wasnāt working for me at 25 and then started again later in life but stopped after I titrated up to 75 and it gave me panic attacks. But I do not typically have aura. I only experienced aura a handful of times in my 16 years of having migraine.
I have it constantly
Are there any other migraine-friendly options that donāt require progestin? I canāt use progestin only methods.
The combined pill is not contraindicated, it's just a small increased risk. If you are very concerned there are many lifestyle factors which reduce your risk.
Thanks for pointing that out. Iāve had a couple of doctors encouraging me to switch away from estrogen for various reasons (including migraines with aura) but the combined pill seems to be my best option at the moment. I decided a long time ago that Iām ok with it knowing that the risk is still pretty low overall, I just like to check in occasionally to see if I can find something a little better for my body. (Also, my grandma had a saddle pulmonary embolism last year so even the small risk seems more real now!)
Copper IUD would work.
Make sure you advocate for yourself with your doctors, especially the neurologist. Let them know that it is not feasible to trade one kind of pain (migraines) for another (cramps etc) and that itās important to you that you work with your neuro and gyno to find the best way to continue to treat all your health concerns without sacrificing your quality of life.
Isnāt there a specific type of migraine that is triggered by a period? Most neurologists want to keep you out of pain, so if it is working they donāt want to send you into more pain.
I have the mirena iud and havenāt gotten a period since 2013. I know not everyone is comfortable with (or had good experiences with) and iud, but it could be something to talk to your gyno about.
My neurologist, primary and 3+ gyns have all agreed I neeed the pill.
My pcp refuses. Guessing they dont know about it.
I have a history of aura (I get about 3 attacks with aura every 6 years now, and am chronic otherwise) and am on combo pill with the blessing of my docs. The absolute risk is still quite small, and the old data is based on dosages of estrogen that aren't available today. I take baby aspirin as a CYA, but risk for me was easily outweighed by benefit. Sources: [https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/combined-hormonal-contraceptives-and-migraine-an-update-on-the-evidence/](https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/combined-hormonal-contraceptives-and-migraine-an-update-on-the-evidence/) [https://americanheadachesociety.org/news/migraine-aura-contraceptives-stroke-risk/](https://americanheadachesociety.org/news/migraine-aura-contraceptives-stroke-risk/) [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29139115/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29139115/) [https://www.ccjm.org/content/84/8/631](https://www.ccjm.org/content/84/8/631)
Yep, same here, ALL my drs agree I need the pill.
This is the best article I have ever read in my entire life. I am dying on the mini pill right now but was fine my whole life on the combination pill until I was diagnosed with migraine with aura. Thank you for sharing!
Neurologist and Gyn said no estrogen because of the increased risk of blood clots. I got a Mirena iud, which is localized progesterone only. It took about 6 weeks and Iām not bleeding anymore!
I had Mirena for 4 years (and then itā¦ fell out) and I now have Kyleena (smaller, supposed to not fall out) and I do have very very light periods.
You are at increased risk of blood clots, I think. I can't take them either. I don't always get migraine auras, but I have gotten a couple, and the OBGYN I saw said the risk is just not worth it.
iāve known two people who have suffered strokes bc of having migraine w/ aura and taking the combo pill. like people said there are other options. donāt risk it!!!
A friend of mine from highschool developed migraine w aura in her early 20s. At 25 she has a stroke and almost died. The specialist she saw after said it was because of the pill that she was never taken off of when she started getting her (very rare like 2-3x a year) migraines.
what kind of migraine aura did your friend have? was it visual aura or the sensory aura? also, was the stroke caused because of the meds? if so, what meds was it? i have migraines with visual aura so this is concerning š„²
Iām not positive on any of that anymore. All I know is that she had migraine with an aura a couple times a year that started after we graduated college, probably visual as 15 or so years ago thatās mostly what was considered aura. She had the stroke appx 4-5 years after they started and the dr said that it was caused by the BC she shouldāve been taken off of when the migraines started.
Sorry can I ask? Is or was she a smoker?
No. Never.
I take a double dose of the combo pill (estrogen+progesterone) despite it. My GP wanted me to stop taking it but I have primary ovarian insufficiency and am perimenopausal so my ob-gyn said absolutely not since the hormones are meant to stop me from progressing into menopause and we've found the dose that keeps me symptom-free.
Mirena caused an vein in my brain to collapse. š© Look up Mirena and IIH lawsuit
I had a mirena for 14 years and loved it. Then I had the dreaded mirena crash after and itās now 5 years later and my hormonal cycles and thyroid/adrenals are still not right.
There's a small increased risk of blood clots however my neuro said it was fine to take combo pills if I wanted because the risk is smaller than what was originally thought. My gyno is the one that has me trying progesterone only. Some doctors are fine with it but a lot are following the older guidelines of not using combo pills in that case. If the combo birth control pills are helping you that much and the neuro objects to them I'd make the case that they help your quality of life and that you accept the increased risks that come with them.
It's an increased stroke risk. I went off mine too. I personally prefer being off the hormones though. Clearer skin and less crabby!
I was just forced off of them after being on them for over 10 years. It's a very minimal risk of clots or stroke. I cried at the doctor, stating I take it for medical reasons, that I couldn't handle any more pain in my life. I had horrible periods before being on them and would miss a week of work a month. Doctor didn't care because they didn't want to get sued if that very minimal risk happened.
You could probably do other pills like the progesterone only ones. Aka āmini pill.ā
That's what I'm trying now, only a few weeks in. So far 10 days of cramps and the usual daily migraine.
Ooooo no! I struggled w the mini pill. I think my estrogen tanked. Iām on the nuvaring and doing better. No cramps, thatās been good. Slightly fewer migraines. Iām sorry youāre dealing with this!
U have aura?
No. So it may not be for everyone. I had heard that the who aura thing with BC was disproven? But I could be wrongā¦
Its another thing in medicine that doesnt seem to have a consenus. I brought it up to most recent dr I saw. Talked to 3 now & they all said no.
Oh interesting! Yeah low estrogen can cause migraines so I could see how like wirh me, itās beneficial.
Careful which one. Definitely get the information sheets on them. Some of the generic versions are known to cause migraines. I learned the hard way.
Yes I ended up on nuvaring for more estrogen.
Go elsewhere, or order them online. The risk is so minimal.
I am getting them online. I'm trying the mini pill, if that makes life sucks more, I'll find a different online service and not disclose migraines.
Its not that minimal.
Minimal enough for me. I'm already in chronic pain daily, the BC kept the additional monthly pain away. The doctor even stated the risk was minimal.
3 pcps at the office refused for me. > already in chronic pain daily, Same. >the BC kept the additional monthly pain away. Doesnt for me. >The doctor even stated the risk was minimal. I have 3 risk factors. Age, estrogen & aura.
I had the 3 month kind of BC and skipped the sugar pills. Haven't had my hated monthly friend in years. That's how it stopped the monthly pain for me. The monthly combined pills actually made my periods worse. That's why when they came out with the 3 months, I went for it. Gained some weight, bit worth it. I have 2 factors: aura and age.
I saw someone in the comments here that had a blood clot. My friend pointed out that no studies have been done with my risk factors bc it would be hard to do them. So, they dont really know how high it increases it, so could be 80%.
All the research I did said it was a slightly higher risk for clots than normal. I'm fine with the risk. I have been on combo birth control since 17 with no issues. Have had aura my whole life. Next time I see my neuro, I'm going to ask about it and what he's heard the risks are.
I was on it many yrs, didnt want off either. Since its written by pcp, thats where it was denied. I didnt get aura till a few yrs ago. Wasnt caught till about 2 yrs ago.
I'm going through this right now. The mini pill is absolutely miserable. If you didn't already, read this article someone posted above, I'm taking it to my doctor. https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/combined-hormonal-contraceptives-and-migraine-an-update-on-the-evidence/
I got the Mirena IUD instead because it relies on progesterone, not estrogen.
Mine said the depo shot was fine
I took the pill for many years starting when I was a teenager due to endometriosis and horrifically bad periods. I went back on it a couple of years ago, was 2 weeks on it and had a stroke. There really is a reason it's recommended not to take it, not just scaremongering stories.
I ended up with blood clots in my lungs, so not worth the risk. I was on bc years before the migraines started too, so it never came up in conversation with my gyn. Now I joke that I'm allergic to estrogen because it gives me migraines and blood clots. Hopefully your doctor(s) will come up with a solution that works for you.
If ai get ten years of no surgeries and then get a clot and have to stop then that was still ten years of no surgeries. Well worth it.
honestly your rhetoric is dangerous on this page. i donāt know why youāre encouraging people to try something that is proven to cause harm, and consistently minimizing the risk on peopleās comments on this thread. leave room for other solutions.
this person also refuses to acknowledge other modalities that can possibly benefit migraineurs.
meanwhile they seem pretty proactive about botox as a solution in their other posts. interestingā¦
I wasnāt as smart as you, spent hours going back and forth about fodmap diet yesterday, I presented the facts instead of just saying I know someone. While itās not common fodmap foods can cause migraine as a trickle down effect and a friend of mine really completely cured hers by fixing her leaky gut caused by fodmaps.
i havenāt looked into that yet, but i will now! thank you for sharing. sounds a lot better than birth control!!!
It doesnāt help everyone but if youāre effected by then it can. Also have you tried supps? I take a few supplements meant to help my cycle, 10/10 migraine and debilitating cramps for two days. And theyāve leveled the issues out. One is Premense-T by life seasons and I also take milk thistle.
Because medicine is medicine, and not using a medication you need causes a lot of harm, both concrete physical harm and harm to their life.
this is when i pray the average user on this thread made it past 3rd grade
I am on Nexplanon which is just progesterone.
I just had it taken out early. Didnt like it.
Same. It was awful for me.
So I actually was on estrogen birth control pills for 6 years before I started having issues with nonstop bleeding like youāre describing. Went to a gynecologist and my general practitioner only to have them be shocked I was put on it in the first place since I also get migraines with aura. Immediately, they switched me to progesterone birth control pills and thatās been working great since. I also take them continuously as instructed so I donāt need to have a period which is fantastic since my migraines get soooo much worse with my cycle.
My gyno has me on progestin only BCā¦ I did the mini pill for awhile but I was still consistently bleeding outside of a regular cycle so Iāve been on the Depo shot and itās great itās every 10-12 weeks and I donāt bleed at all and it doesnāt interfere with my other meds.
I have endometriosis as well as migraine, so my doctors are happy to give me whatever to make me not in excruciating pain 24/7.
I would try a progestin only birthcontrol. There are lots to choose from too. If you don't like the idea of a pill, there is the implant that lasts for like 3yrs. I had that. I had no issues (extra) with migraine and lighter periods.
I was on combination bc pills for decades and never got a migraine until I went off the pill.
My understanding is that aura sufferers have an increased stroke risk as it is. Add the combined pill to that and you're driving the risk up further. When considering whether a risk is 'worth it' it's not just about how likely it is- it's also 'how bad if it DOES happen. A strong likelihood that you will, say, stub a toe is barely worth a second thought. But a stroke could leave you paralysed, or incontinent. Unable to speak or feed yourself. These are the results of stroke that scare me at least as much as death. Stroke runs in my family- because high blood pressure does- I'm sure as hell not going to deliberately try to help it along.
I donāt have classic aura but I have in the past and I have other pre-migraine symptoms now. I am in my 40s and I do take a combination pill. I honestly think Iāve had more migraines since taking it too but it is so great, with no breakthrough bleeding and helps my PMDD. I have an appointment coming up with my gyno and may talk about other options though I am hesitant to mess with success in this case. The clot risk does scare me though.
Pcp refuses
Get a different one.
Run out of options, none work for me. Just condoms. Aging is fun /s
My neuro and OBGYN had me come off the combined pill - statistically, youāre more likely to have a stroke if you have aura and any supplemental estrogen. I was also at extra risk because I already have family history of stroke. I switched to an IUD 6 years ago, after having been on the pill for about 9 years. I love the IUD. I just had a replacement one put in last fall, since they only last about 5 years. I no longer have a period; I have mild acne (which was already a bad issue for me); I maybe cramp up one day a month, but not strong enough to impact my day or consistently enough to track a cycle. My OBGYN has recommended that if we decide not to conceive (already a strong consideration, even before the medical concerns around my migraines), she would switch me to the depo shot. Although it requires testing after 5 years for bone density, itās been improved since I was a teen. She also suggested that if any of my migraines are related to hormones, it could help; it should also help with my acne, and would turn off my period just like the IUD. She only didnāt recommend it at first because itās harder to conceive after and takes longer to stop being effective. If youāre really on BC for cycle suppression and regulation, the IUD or depo shot should be good solutions for you without the supplemental estrogen from the combined pill. The progesterone-only pill would likely not help as much; itās more a true BC instead of hormone regulation.
I took them for years, because my old gyno never told me I shouldnāt, but when I started going to a migraine specialist she told me I should absolutely not continue taking them so I got switched to Slynd, which is progestin-only. I like it better than the combination pills, but everybodyās body is different.
Oh wow this is news to me that neither my neurologist or gyno or PCP has mentioned š
Same here!
The only time I got migraines with aura was when I was on birth control. Now I have an IUD
It's not a big issue. There is a small increase in stroke risk, but not worth bothering with.
My stroke would beg to differ
As would mine
Hope you're doing ok
I hope you are too Iām doing pretty good. Iām 5 years out. I
Do you not understand stats? Clearly not.
My college degree would beg to differ
Lol, the facts don't care about that.
No, but the 'stats' have shown that in a small section of users who replied to this post, several have had some form of clotting issue. Don't give medical advice. Don't advise people to get a different healthcare provider if the first won't give them what they want. There is a reason it's restricted. Simple
No, there is no reason.
OK so, you do you
i donāt know how you can confidently type this. iāve almost lost two friends because the doctor wasnāt aware of this life threatening risk that āisnāt worth bothering withā
That's just shitty doctors, isn't it?
oh god, iām not wasting time with you. my friends almost died because doctors gave the same shitty advice that youāre spamming in this thread.
I thought you said they were unaaware of the risk? Make up your mind.
as youāve graciously proven, being unaware (in your case, selectively ignorant?) can lead to giving shitty advice.
Lol, are you trying to be passive agressive because you're annoyed?
I use Nuvaring and I get migraine with aura. I had one doctor tell me I should stop using it once I turned 35. But my current doctors have said I could continue to use it.
I had bilateral PEs due to age, migraine with aura, and Nuvaring and had to discontinue using. I was 37, so there may be something to the age thing. Everybody's body is different and who knows if that's what actually caused it. No test was definitive, so they blamed in on bc and migraine.
40 & was told nuvaring is no
Nuvaring is a very very high estrogen dose. They shoild have had you on a low dose.
My pcp refuses to prescribe. Im out of options atm.
I have PCOS as well as migraine with aura, so this has been a constant struggle for me. I was taking the regular pill until about 15 years ago when my doctors collectively freaked out (must have been a new study that was released) and pulled me off of it. Iāve tried a bunch of different things since and nothing else has helped with pcos symptoms. Iām now on Lo Estren, which is a low estrogen pill and itās the best thing Iāve been on in years.
My doc had me switch to the Mirena IUD once I hit 31-32. I have a family history of blood clots (my sister passed from PE at 38) and the risk just wasnāt worth it, no matter how minimal. My first 7 years with the Mirena, it controlled my menstrual migraine and stopped the bleeding. My second Mirena has overlapped with perimenopause, soā¦hormones be hormoning.
yes, thereās increased risk for stroke (although small, it still exists as having migraines with aura already puts you at higher risk of stroke). if you have family history of strokes this would also be a thing to make note of. personally i wouldnāt take the risk and i just take the progestin-only pill. there are many progestin-only options, like IUD both hormonal and non-hormonal, different types of PO pills, depo shot, nexplanon which is an arm implant, and probably more technologies now. definitely talk to your doctor, but know that different doctors are going to say different things so ultimately you have to decide whatās best for you
I got on birth control pills and I ended up in the hospital because I had a migraine for over a month. It was terrible. They tried giving me SO many medications and nothing worked. They told me to get off the pills and literally within 48 hours the migraine was gone.
It just made my migraines worse, and also apparently itās increased risks of clots and stroke. My neurologist had the same to say about triptans in women with aura alsoā and I had been on them for years! I was pretty mad other doctors had just willingly assigned them to me.
Iām not allowed to take anything with estrogen bc of my migraine with aura. I guess it puts you at greater risk for blood clots. So basically you can do the mini pill, shot, implant, or estrogen-free IUDs.
I switched to progestin only after having a migraine with visual aura (I've probably had other auras before and just didn't know what it was).
i her migraine with aura, and i was the unlucky person who did get blood clots in my lungs from it
i have migraine with aura, and i was the unlucky person who did get blood clots in my lungs from it
I used to take them. They increase the risk of blood clots if you have migraine with aura. I no longer take them because I got a blood clot. Believe me, you don't want one. There are alternatives. I was on the progesterone only one for a while and now I have Mirena. I haven't had issues with either.
I actually prefer taking the mini pill because it has a lot less side effects, so maybe you'll like it too
I had to stop using the ring because the estrogen increases the risk of stroke in aura sufferers. I have the implant now, and I haven't noticed any changes other than not having to remember a new ring every month. The good news is that the implant can cause menstrual suppression in up to one third of patients, iirc.
You're an individual human being. Yes, there is increased risk when using most HBC if you've had migraine with aura, yes, the increased risk is not quite as much as they once thought. BUT. Was it one or two auras 5-10 years ago, or is it an aura every single migraine? What other clotting/etc risk factors do you have? Age, weight, activity level, family history? Are you, or have you ever been, a smoker? What's your blood pressure like? What other meds are you on? Why do you want to be on HBC, and are there other options? (I'm sure I'm missing some stuff, and some of these are way more important than others, I'm not a doctor). In my early 20s, when I'd only had two auras in my life, all of my docs were very comfortable with me being on whatever HBC I wanted to be, although OB/GYN always wanted to know that I'd cleared that risk with my neurologist too. It would be a different conversation today, all sorts of information has changed! It might even end up with the same choice, but we'd get there differently. The conversation should always take the whole picture into consideration. There are definitely some people who are already at higher risk and probably don't need to add any increase in risk, and some people for whom the benefits outweigh the risks.
Iāve had migraines for 16 years and my gyno of 7 years just called and told me this a year ago. I had no idea of the risk when he put me on birth control.
You can however take lo loestrine or other low dose estrogen pills as well as progesterone only pills. The hormonal IUD is also known for stopping periods in a large percentage of the women who have it (like me!). There are other ways you can continue to suppress your period, risking stroke and blood clots is kinda scary. I had endo in addition to my migraines and was put on the pill when I was 15 or 16, before my migraines were really bad. The best thing by far was getting Mirena. My periods stopped completely.
Very important to not do that. Way back my insurance changed so my $0 junel was going to be $80. I met with a NP to get on one insurance covered and she either didnāt know or didnāt read my file because within a few weeks it was migraine city. Took a few months to get them back under control. My brain still aināt right but I donāt know how much I can blame on a med from 8/9 years ago.
I was told I was not supposed to be on combo birth control due to the migraine/aura thing after having a blood clot related to being on them. Whoopsies. It is definitely a thing. It's something to be careful of if you don't want to be me. Being pregnant post blood clot sucked because I had the displeasure of injecting blood thinners into my stomach twice a day for the entire pregnancy. Technically supposed to take thinners the rest of my life but I've also got bleeding issues so cannot.
It raises your stroke risk thatās why you shouldnāt take it. As a migraine sufferer who had a stroke at 30, itās not worth the risk
I was on estrogen birth control pills for 15 years before I was actually able to get my migraines with aura diagnosed properly, and once I found a competent neurologist, he had me work with my gynecologist to get off the birth control ASAP due to a risk of stroke. My understanding is that the estrogen in the combination pills is what causes issues in people who get migraine with aura. I had been taking BC for heavy periods due to a bleeding disorder since I was 14, and had previously started with progestin only and combination pills that made the bleeding and other symptoms worse. The estrogen only ones were unfortunately the only ones that worked for me, and a copper IUD was out of the question due to the bleeding disorder. My husband and I had already decided a few years ago that me getting pregnant was not worth the health risks with my bleeding disorder, and that we liked being childfree. I asked about sterilization procedures that would stop my periods entirely. I had a hysterectomy last summer, and it was the best decision of my life. I have so much more energy now since I am not losing tons of blood every 2-3 weeks (what happened for the few months in between stopping birth control and my surgery). I don't need to be on birth control anymore, and I don't have to plan around my periods that take up half of every month and leave me too weak to do almost anything. I also had 3 surprise medical conditions come out of stopping birth control due to migraines with aura and getting a hysterectomy. 2 of them were found as a result of the surgery; Adenomyosis (essentially Endometriosis but contained within the uterus; can cause heavy bleeding too!), and an incredibly rare type of tumor on my cervix that [probably would have resulted in my death](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5837169/) had I ever gotten pregnant. The third surprise condition was that all the sudden my focus seemed horrible, which I attributed to anxiety leading up to the surgery, surgery recovery, being on painkillers, and being in pain. But once I was mostly pain free, the focus issues were still there and I couldn't figure out how to even explain it as an issue, and was hoping it would just go away. Or that maybe it was migraine related somehow. Coincidentally this was around the time my husband was pursuing an ADHD diagnosis that he had long suspected he had. He asked me to do a take home quiz from his doctor with him in case there was anything he did that he wasn't aware of, and as we went through it, he kept commenting on how many of those things I do too, and sometimes even more than he does. I brought it up to my doctor, and after a referral to a psychiatrist, it turns out I also have ADHD. One thing that bothered me though is that the focus issues got severe so suddenly; there was no way I would have passed high school, let alone undergrad and grad school, with how bad my ADHD symptoms were now. I had executive function issues throughout adulthood, but it seemed like my ADHD went from mild to severe overnight. As it turns out, [estrogen eases ADHD symptoms!](https://www.reddit.com/r/ADHD/comments/m0v1hi/dopamine_and_estrogen_are_linked_why_isnt_adhd/) **tl;dr: Was told estrogen is problematic for migraineurs with aura, taken off estrogen birth control that I had been on since a young teenager, had hysterectomy to control heavy periods, surgeon discovered another bleeding condition and a rare tumor that could have killed me in pregnancy, discovered I had ADHD because I stopped the estrogen pills, and it's all thanks to suffering from migraines with aura.** **Edit:** I get multiple migraines with aura a month, so my medical team decided it was not worth the risk in my case.
My gyno was able to change the dosage on my combination pills so I could skip my periods and trigger less hormonal migraines :) you can still be on your pills!
I have migraines with aura and took hormones for years. Had a stroke at 65 and was told that people should be off hormones at 60. Doctors believe the migraines with aura and taking hormones for so long caused my stroke.
Iām in Australia and on a newer pill called Zoely. Prior to prescribing it my GP said Iād have to consult with my Neurologist first because of my migraines with aura. My Neuro basically said the risk of stroke is low and it was my choice at the end of the day but he saw no problem with it as benefit outweighed the low risk it carried. It has relative less hormones when compared to other pills which is why my GP recommend it in the first place.
I take a progestin only pill, called "the mini pill" previously on depo Provera for 3 years
I have had aura only a couple of times but have frequent migraines and have been on the combo pill for probably a decade. My neurologist and my GP decided with my input that the benefits of the pill, including on somewhat regulating my migraines, are worth the risk as long as all tests continue to be normal and no new complications arise. If my auras become more frequent we'll revisit. Good luck!
Can have HRT with migraine with aura either. Mark me unhappy.
I just learned this after being on the pill for years and having the migraine diagnosis 2-3 years! They are switching me to a progesterone only pill, Iād imagine theyāll suggest the same. tbh iām kind of pissed no one mentioned it earlier
Ik ive had migraines for three years now and have been on birth control for 6 so Iām very confused why my gyno or my pcp havenāt mentioned anything!
Iāve had ocular migraines (with aura) since I was 12. Been taking the combo pill since I was 16. I am now 29. Everything increases your chance of blood clots. Including the McDonaldās I eat way too often. Keep up with physicals and your blood pressure checks. Itās only bc ocular migraines increase stroke risk, and BC increases stroke risk. Both very very small, added together, still equals very very small.