Headaches, in conjunction with birth control use, should always be taken seriously as this could be the precursor of a stroke (a serious, but not common, side effect of the pill.) But before you stop taking your birth control – which you shouldn’t without talking to your doctor – let’s discuss the difference between dangerous headaches and minor headaches.
Headaches that may require immediate stoppage of the pill are those associated with neurological symptoms such as: vision problems, trouble speaking, abnormal skin sensations (itching, tingling, or burning) or weakness of a limb, and migraine headaches that start or worsen while on birth control pills. A migraine is a severe recurring headache, usually affecting only one side of the head, characterized by sharp pain and often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances. Based on these symptoms your doctor may have you stop taking the pill and refer you to a neurologist.
Tension headaches are a frequent problem in women but do not require stoppage of your birth control. These type of headaches do not show any likelihood of serious complications and can be treated with an over-the-counter pain med. They commonly start in the neck, are bilateral (affecting both sides of the head), and are not associated with an aura or neurological problems. The drop in estrogen during your pill-free week can sometimes be the tension headache trigger.
If you are taking the pill and suffer from headaches, discussing your symptoms with your doctor, minor or major, is the best thing you can do. Do not stop taking the pill without first talking to your doctor.
The most serious side effect associated with the pill is a greater chance of blood clots, stroke and heart attack. These problems occur in only a small number of women who use birth control pills. Women who are at the highest risk of developing these problems are those who smoke, are over thirty-five and those with other health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart or vascular disease or blood cholesterol and triglyceride abnormalities.
Birth Control Buzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, types of birth control (prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase pharmaceuticals on-line.
For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
Birth Control Buzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, types of birth control(prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase pharmaceuticals on-line. For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
I started my period on my green pills and stoped 2 days before i was supposed to end my period is that a bad thing?
Comment by jenny — February 2, 2008 @ 7:18 am
By green pills do you mean your placebo pills?
Comment by Ashlynn — February 2, 2008 @ 7:58 am
I agree – what the doctor has to say is of utmost importance no matter how minor the symptom is.
Comment by antioxidants — March 2, 2008 @ 8:26 am
One of my biggest migraine triggers is hormone fluctuations, so my migraines got WORSE after I stopped taking the pill. I’d literally be in the emergency room crying and holding my head every single time my hormones changed (ovulation and at menstruation). So I asked my doc to let me go on a monophasic (the same medication strength is in all of the pills) and to skip the inert pills and go directly to the next batch of “real” pills. It worked. No more ovulation or menstrual migraine. It might be worth looking into for people who really get whacked by menstrual migraine. On a side note, I take Yaz (and my skin looks great!), but any monophasic pill should work okay.
Comment by Anonymous — May 2, 2008 @ 9:00 pm
will i break out if i stop using the birth control pill?
Comment by Anonymous — February 16, 2009 @ 11:34 pm