Can using birth control pills make my migraine worse?

Migraine headaches are considered to be a very painful, intense and sometimes chronic condition that effect both sides of the head and behind the eyes. Migraines can sometimes cause nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light. Some migraine sufferers may see light flashes or even suffer from temporary blindness. The attacks may last a few minutes or remain for hours. Some migraine sufferers have “moments” that only appear once in a great while, while others suffer frequently. Historically, women usually suffer from migraine symptoms more than men.

The exact cause of migraines is not known. For some, migraines may be genetic or possibly be some chemical changes that trigger migraine attacks. Experts have found some common associations that trigger a migraine attack such as too much sleep or lack of sleep, skipped meals, loud noises, stress, red wine, caffeine, nitrate rich food, or food containing MSG and Tyramine. Women sufferers are also advised to maintain a food diary so they can recognize their own possible triggers and avoid them.

Whether using birth control pills make migraines worse is still not yet known. For some women, birth control pills have actually lessened their susceptibility to migraine attacks and they may notice reduced frequency and intensity of the migraine attacks. In other women, however, birth control pills have actually made their migraines worse. There is a third group of women who seem to be unaffected by birth control pills.

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