Why do oral contraceptives cause headaches?

Why do oral contraceptives cause headaches?

Headaches & Hormones Hormonal birth control contains either estrogen and progestin, or progestin alone. These hormones regulate menstrual cycles, and they can also have an impact on hormonal headaches. Fluctuations in levels of estrogen have been found to cause headaches in some women.

Can birth control cause headaches everyday?

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.

Do oral contraceptives cause migraines?

When a person takes inactive pills, their estrogen levels suddenly drop. This can trigger headaches , including migraines. People who experience a sudden increase in headaches when they begin to take a birth control pill are likely reacting to this hormonal swing.

What birth control can you take if you get migraines?

If you have migraine with aura, your doctor may recommend a progestin-only birth control method. It doesn’t carry the same risks as birth control methods containing a combination of hormones. Progestin-only birth control is available in pill and injectable form as well as IUDs and implants.

How long do birth control headaches last?

This often stops after the first two or three months, so don’t give up on birth control right away if you start getting migraine attacks on the pill. But some women do continue to get headaches after those first months. Some women are extra-sensitive to the hormones in birth control pills, especially the estrogen.

Should I stop taking birth control if I get migraines?

If you have migraine with aura, you should not take the combined oral contraceptive pill. This is because the combined pill is associated with a very small increased risk of stroke. This risk increases when the pill is taken by women who have migraine with aura.

How do you get rid of estrogen headaches?

Treatment for hormonal headaches

1. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
2. Lie down in a dark, quiet room.
3. Place an ice bag or cold cloth to your head.
4. Massage the area where you feel pain.
5. Perform deep breathing or other relaxation exercises.

Where are hormonal headaches located?

Menstrual or hormonal migraines are similar to a regular migraine and may or may not be preceded by an aura. The migraine is a throbbing pain that starts on one side of the head. It may also involve sensitivity to light and nausea or vomiting.

How long can hormonal headaches last?

Menstrual migraines, also known as hormone headaches, happen right before or during a woman’s period (up to two days before through three days during) and may get worse with movement, light, smells, or sound. Your symptoms may last for a few hours, but they’ll likely last days.

Can too much estrogen cause headaches?

Increased estrogen can trigger headaches. If you have a history of migraines, adding estrogen to your system may increase the frequency of these migraines.