Menstrual Migraines and Birth Control

I suffer from menstrual migraines, and I'm wondering if any of you do, and if you've found any birth control that eases them?  I spoke with my Ob/gyn about IUDs to find out if any birth control that stops periods would also help with migraines.  I'm thinking if I don't have a period, maybe I won't get a migraine?  He said it's a toss up, and that some people find relief while others don't.  So I want to hear from people that have used birth control pills, shots, IUDs, whatever and have had success with easing/stopping migraines.  What method did you use?  Did you have any negative side effects?  I intend  to research my options before I go back to the Ob/gyn in January.

Btw, I'm already seeing a neurologist for migraines, and treatment is going well, but I still get menstrual migraines occassionally.  Also, we are no longer able to have kids (we've got 2 and decided to stop there), so I don't need BC for that reason.   

I have suffered migraines since I first got my period at 11. I have taken different types of BC pills since I was 16. They do seem to help. There was one that made them worse...I can't remember the name - I think it was an Ortho brand. But now I take Yasmin and they're well managed, mostly. I still get a bad one every once in a while. My mom and grandmother had them as well, and my mom told me she didn't get them when pregnant or after menopause.

Diet and allergies can be contributing factors to migraines as well. I know there's a list of foods that trigger mine, so I avoid them. Sadly, chocolate can trigger one for me, and what do I crave at TOM??? Yeah.

 Did you get them when you were pregnant with your kids? Something like depo might be a good route...it doesn't let you have a period at all.

I got them too and they were so bad! I basically had to go to bed the entire day before my period. I am on YAZ and no longer get them, BUT the first 4 months I was on it, I got HORRIBLE migranes on the nonhormone days. (Those went away with time!)

Good Luck!

Maggie

Brianadecaro, you sound just like me!  I took Orthotrycycline for several years before we decided to have kids.  It didn't help my migraines at all, but they were really, really bad back then anyway.  My mom and grandma also got them.  Both of them told me they stopped having migraines after having kids. 

I have a pretty long list of triggers myself.  Chocolate is also a big trigger for me, so I'm very careful when I eat it.

I only got 2 migraines when I was pregnant with my son.  Well, actually, I had one for a week after I'd conceived him.  I had no idea I was pregnant yet (it was about 2 weeks before my missed period), and I was taking all kinds of prescription migraine meds.  Thank goodness he turned out okay!  But the two other migraines I had were way into my pregnancy and I didn't take anything at all.

I had constant migraines while pregnant with my daughter.  It was so miserable, so I took Tylenol (since it's all I could have), but Tylenol doesn't phase me.  I had a really crappy pregnancy all around with her, so I'm glad she's out now!  Still, she's my little princess, but I digress...

Maggie8913, thanks for sharing!  Yaz is one that I considered, so I'm going to bring it up with my doctor.  I think he actually mentioned it to me when we spoke about birth control.  

Yes, my BC gave me migraines, too.  Really awful ones for someone who rarely had a headache prior.  Since you are no longer going to have kids, look into the "Essure" procedure that can be done at your ob/gyn.  It's like having a pap...they insert tiny steel springs into your fallopian tubes, and scar tissue develops around them closing off the tubes within 3 months.  At the three month checkup they insert dye to make sure they are closed...again very similar to having a pap. I would recommend this to any and every woman who no longer wants to have kids.  I have not had a migraine since! 

I am so glad you posted this!  I too get menstrual migraines, for some time now.  I have been going to my Ob/gyn too to see if I can get some relief.  She did tell me that if i get an Aura with my migraine, that I should probably only take the birth control pill that has Progrestrone only in it because the other ones can cause stroke in people that get the Aura.  Anyway, I am the one with the aura.  I just don't want to take the pill because I don't want any side effects.  Oh, she also said it could cause weight gain too, yikes, what do we do??? 

I am also seeing a acupuncturist for tension migraine too, cause that is one of the many triggers that I have.

I am looking forward to reading all the posts so maybe we all can get some help from your post, Thanks again.

cecily, gosh...I was actually looking forward to pregnancy and menopause for the no migraine factor, but now you've got me scared. :)

I hope you find something that works for you. Unfortunately, with me its been trial and error. You're seeing a neuro, so that's good. Mine advised me to stay away from processed grains and that does help.

Strangely enough, I got one last night (psychosomatic??? Maybe, but I am about a week away from TOM, so go figure) and had to take Maxalt. It's a good medication and usually always knocks the headache out. Trouble is, it knocks me right out too! It was really hard to wake up this morning. My bf literally had to drag me out of bed.

Yours seem to be directly hormone related, so BC might be the best option for you. But as another poster said, acupuncture works well, though expensive. My boss (who's a man, so clearly not menstrual) has a history of BAD migraines. His Dr. gave him beta blockers for High blood Pressure, and his headaches have been greatly reduced.

Another thing I've found that works (sometimes) without medication is to take 2 cold towels or ice packs and place one on your forehead and one on the back of your neck at the base of your head.

mdmcb, thanks for the info!  I will talk to my doctor about that as well.

jbartl2136, that's another concern I have.  I want the migraines to go away, but I don't want to gain a lot of weight!  I don't get an aura with mine, I guess that's a good thing?  How does accupuncture work for you?  I've been interested to try it, but I haven't yet.

brianadecaro, don't let me scare you!  My first pregnancy really wasn't that bad.  I guess that goes to show you they are all different. 

I think I've tried just about every abortive out there, i.e. Imitrex, Axert, Zomig, etc.  I really liked Maxalt despite the side effects.  Maxalt always knocks my headache out immediately, but it also makes me sleepy.  I never could take it at work.  Not only does it make me tired, it makes me goofy.  LOL!  You'd think I was drunk when I'm on it, and I literally can not function.  I was doing some data entry at my job one day, and I had to just stop because I couldn't type.  I was making so many mistakes, and I couldn't control what my fingers were doing.  Unfortunately, my job required a lot of concentration, so I was pretty useless the rest of the day.  I also use ice packs on my temples when my migraines are bad enough.  It doesn't take the pain away, but at least it sort of numbs it.

I can't complain really.  I used to get migraines about 5 days a week, and they could last up to 10 days in a row.  That's how it was for me in high school and college.  The older I get, the less I get them.  Now I really only get them around my period, so I'm hoping I can find some kind of BC that will regulate my hormones and prevent the headaches.  There has to be something that can help!

I have been taking Yaz continuously - meaning when I get to the placebo pills I don't take them and go straight to the next pack. I have been on Yaz about a year, and have been very happy with it. My dr. said that happens to a lot of women, and the drop in hormones can trigger the migraine like clockwork (along with the crazy!). In addition, I never get a period at all anymore - it freaked me out at first, but now I am loving it - no tampons, no cramps, no headaches!!!

Cecily, Maxalt does the same to me. I get so drowsy and loopy I have to miss work. But it's really the only thing I've found that gets rid of a headache once its started. Before I got on Maxalt, I ended up in Urgent Care quite a few times for some shots of Toradol and phenergan. Not always a plesant experience.

I hope you find something that works for you. Best of luck!!

I got migraines after an assault which resulted in nerve damage among other things.  But I'm here! 

I have been on every drug imaginable.  The only thing that has given me relief and has absolutely no side effects is acupuncture. 

You might try acupuncture and a massage the next time you have a flare up.  With acupuncture it may take several sessions for it to get under control. But for me, without insurance, it was cheaper than going to the doctor and getting on different pills. 

Plus, it's better for your liver. 

I had menstral migraine for years, made worse when i was stressed like exam time at school. Discovered different contraceptives helped or made it worse. But for me the 'magic' cure was accupunture. Im so not into altenative therapys but my mum was give accupunture but a doctor after she came out of a coma, the accuputure had amazing results so i also tried it. I was recommended regular sessions, but i only had 2 and that was over a year ago, ive probably only had 1 migraine since, thats a huge improvement compared to monthly.

I really would suggest giving it a go, it worked so well for me, its worth the try.

Hi there! Can anyone help me .i get menstrual cluster migraines and have recently had 2 miscarriages...silent at 9 weeks and a chemical pregnancy...I STILL got my cluster migraines during pregnancy...did any of you????????I am worried it might have effected my pregnancy outcome?Have you all had no problems haveing kids?Why does the migraine still break through when the pregnancy hormones are there????Please help Thank you.....