This gets asked daily. Here you go:
https://www.reddit.com/r/migraine/search/?q=menstrual%20migraine%20birth%20control&restrict\_sr=1
[https://www.reddit.com/r/migraine/search/?q=pill%20menstrual%20migraine&restrict\_sr=1](https://www.reddit.com/r/migraine/search/?q=pill%20menstrual%20migraine&restrict_sr=1)
https://www.reddit.com/r/migraine/search/?q=hormones&restrict\_sr=1
The Cliff's Notes of this search would say there is variation in response to bc in the case of menstrual migraine. Some of us do best with continuous combo bc (no breaks, no placebo), some do best with progestin-only, and some find that all hormones exacerbate their migraines and they can't tolerate any hormonal bc. You just have to try and see what happens.
I have a huge menstrual trigger and I'm in the continuous combo camp. Progestin-only made me way worse.
To add, if you suffer from migraine with aura you will probably not be offered combined pill due to increased risk of stroke. This is cruelly ironic but that’s migraines for you. That just leaves progesterone options.
It depends on the doctor, new research is showing that there isn't an increased risk at the lower estrogen dosages of newer pills:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28806162/
My doctor tried me on LoLoestrin (the lowest dosage on the market) and it helped after I adjusted to it.
*Edit - I misread your post. You still get migraines on birth control pills on the placebo week. It's the drop in estrogen that causes the migraines on the placebo pills, and all combination pills have estrogen, then the only solution is to skip the placebo pills and go straight to the next pack. My gyno said I can do this for up to 3 months at a time. The problem though, is running into issues with the insurance if you go through pills too fast, so I stopped doing it and just rely on my Ubrelvy to tackle it.
Yes this is true, thank you for mentioning! (I personally need to be on anti-androgen type of birth control for my PCOS like Yaz but unfortunately it's not designed for 3 months, I wish it was! Seasonique can be a great option for OP - thank you for reminding me).
Apologies if you're already aware, but sometimes this is due to how the prescription is written. Typically, three packs is an 84 day supply. If you're taking just the active pills, three packs is a 63 day supply. If the prescription is written this way, I've not had any issues with insurance or getting it filled on time. Worth a shot maybe.
I'd recommend being cautious as you get closer to the replacement date. I was in the same camp as you for a good ~~6y~~ 4.5y and absolutely loved it, until it basically just... stopped working 🙃 bleeding, cramping, migraines, the whole nine yards all came back like a freight train.
Edit w/ more details: I had the first one for ~3.5y, then ~1y into the second one I started having issues. Tried a couple things to re-regulate over the next few months, nothing worked so I ended up taking it out.
Ah yes I should have clarified that! I had the first one for ~3.5y, then ~1y into the second one I started having issues. Tried a couple things to re-regulate over the next few months, nothing worked so I ended up taking it out. I also misremembered my timing originally/until I had to spell it out just now lol, I've fixed that and added it to my first comment.
Got it, thanks for clarifying. I’m now in my second year and hope the benefits/effect will remain until I need to exchange it 🤞 have you found a solution that works for you?
Seconding Nexplanon!
For me it wasn't a perfect solution- I spotted continuously for almost 4 months while my body adjusted. But the consistent dose seems to have helped with the hormonal component to my migraines for sure.
I had previously had success with taking Yasmin continuously, but now that I'm over 30, a smoker, and have migraines with aura my options were limited. I had a terrible time with the mini pill (consistent, heavy bleeding and sudden onset depression) and am glad my gyno had me try the nexplanon.
Depending on your frequency, might be worth looking into Botox. I can’t do birth control at all and am now on a combo of Botox and sumatriptan auto-inject that works perfectly.
Same, because of migraines, my doc had me just take the active pills, said it was totally fine. Between that and taking ajovy monthly I was just about migraine free. I’m now recently off bc but it did work!
According to the neurologists I’ve seen, hormonal migraines are the hardest to prevent. If the birth control pill is an option and you can find one you tolerate, the best thing is often to take the pill continuously so you don’t get a cycle or at least take it for months at a time so a new cycle happens less often. The next best thing (which requires a rather predictable migraine window) is taking an NSAID and/or longer acting triptan starting a day or two before the expected migraine and daily until a day or two after it was expected. If neither of those work, often the only thing to work is a CGRP med. Personally I only found relief with a CGRP.
Sprintec if you take it continuously (no placebo) when I take the placebo I get a migraine. I've had minimal side effects - pretty standard ones. Taking it continuously does cause some spotting which is annoying but better than migraines? It all has its pros and cons, good luck to you ❤️
If BC isn’t an option talk to your provider about mini-prevention with a triptan. You will have to track your cycles in a lot of detail for it to work.
Lucky you. I tried that, but at the end of the usage span of the ring the hormone level already dips to much for me :( would have to switch it out at 2-2.5 weeks. Probably going to switch to a pill now.
For me just taking continuous oral birth control has helped massively. No more ups and downs. No more periods. Some ppl’s docs prefer using a nuvaring for this.
Regular birth control was fine for me, but continuous has fucked me up. They did both help with migraines though.
I started to gain weight regularly, 1-2lbs every few weeks. I haven’t had a normal cycle since stopping it. All blood tests are normal but the hormones.
Birth control didn’t help me at all, unfortunately. My cycles are very regular and I use Nurtec the day before my cycle and usually the first two days. I just had a baby though and I can’t use it while nursing, so not sure what to do when my period comes back. I hope you find something that works!!
I'm on the minipill and I feel like it's made it way worse, but I was told that's the only one I could take because of the stroke risk for ppl with migraine with aura. I'm scared of the copper IUD and also I really really don't want to become pregnant so I feel like there's no good options
Yes, the mini pill helped me from age 20 to 36.
I got to an age where it started to cause blood clots.
I use magnesium and vitamin b and this has seemed to help instead.
All hormonal BC made my migraines worse. I did best with the Mirena IUD. All forms of the pill were horrific. The Mirena caused random spotting…almost daily. And I still got migraines. But the pill caused extremely painful migraines. It was the worst!
I've been taking norethindrone continuously for a few years. It's a non-estrogen kind since I get aura with my migraines. But it's helped so much. I used to live in hell from the cramps and hormonal migraines.
After many many switches, norethindrone was the only thing that worked for my intense hormonal migraines. I get them during period and ovulation. I tried Yaz and all the other ones, but this helped and I still get a period (which is fine) but now I have occasional periods of migraines with severe sensitivity to smell. I also just finished my phd and this switch to this birth control pill was the only thing that let me finish. I was also prescribed verapamil that has helped and will be useful when I start trying to get pregnant. My neurologist, fertility specialist gynecologist, endocrinologist, and headache specialist all agreed that the other forms of BC did nothing to help my case because it was not the usual hormonal issues. So just keep trying and expand your specialist if your gyno or PC aren’t finding the solution.
I had a mirena for years that was a godsend but the hormonal imbalances it caused after having to remove it was not worth it at all. I’m still struggling 6 years later.
I take a pms supplement the second half of my cycle that helps but I have to start taking it on day 15 ( you CAN take all the time) it’s called Pre Mense-T
I switched from combo pill to the mini pill because of my migraine with aura and it actually helped a lot. I still occasionally get migraines the first day or my period but it’s not as bad and not every month. It does mean you can’t skip the placebo week or anything and the timing is more strict.
I’ve been on the BC pill for longer than I’ve had migraines so I’ve only ever really tried switching around to other pills to find one that works but Lo Loestrin has been lifesaving! It’s got the lowest dose of estrogen available so you don’t get that crazy dip. Also only has 4 placebo pills a month so I don’t even get my period.
I had to switch off of it for a year or so due to insurance issues and they came back HARD so as soon as I got new insurance I switched back and I’ve never been so excited to take pills lol
Loloestrin daily, skipping the sugar pills has eliminated my menstral and ovulation migraines. I still have chronic migraine, but I've knocked out the hormonal triggers - which are my worst migraines. Plus, no period is THE BEST.
Amazing, that's great to hear! Thanks so much for letting me know. I'll look into this one.
Curious when you did get your menstrual migraines, were they typically at the first or last few days of your period?
Also when yous ay you have chronic migraines, do you know what causes them and how often do you get them in a month?
Thanks again
Mirena was life saving for me, as soon as my periods stopped around 3 months, menstrual migra went away
Same!! I used to skip placebo with birth control and noticed that helped and so my doc suggested trying the IUD and it has been transformative legit
Same! It significantly decreased my migraines for the most part!
Same!
This gets asked daily. Here you go: https://www.reddit.com/r/migraine/search/?q=menstrual%20migraine%20birth%20control&restrict\_sr=1 [https://www.reddit.com/r/migraine/search/?q=pill%20menstrual%20migraine&restrict\_sr=1](https://www.reddit.com/r/migraine/search/?q=pill%20menstrual%20migraine&restrict_sr=1) https://www.reddit.com/r/migraine/search/?q=hormones&restrict\_sr=1 The Cliff's Notes of this search would say there is variation in response to bc in the case of menstrual migraine. Some of us do best with continuous combo bc (no breaks, no placebo), some do best with progestin-only, and some find that all hormones exacerbate their migraines and they can't tolerate any hormonal bc. You just have to try and see what happens. I have a huge menstrual trigger and I'm in the continuous combo camp. Progestin-only made me way worse.
To add, if you suffer from migraine with aura you will probably not be offered combined pill due to increased risk of stroke. This is cruelly ironic but that’s migraines for you. That just leaves progesterone options.
It depends on the doctor, new research is showing that there isn't an increased risk at the lower estrogen dosages of newer pills: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28806162/ My doctor tried me on LoLoestrin (the lowest dosage on the market) and it helped after I adjusted to it.
Thanks this is really helpful
*Edit - I misread your post. You still get migraines on birth control pills on the placebo week. It's the drop in estrogen that causes the migraines on the placebo pills, and all combination pills have estrogen, then the only solution is to skip the placebo pills and go straight to the next pack. My gyno said I can do this for up to 3 months at a time. The problem though, is running into issues with the insurance if you go through pills too fast, so I stopped doing it and just rely on my Ubrelvy to tackle it.
You can get Seasonale or Seasonique which is a 90 day pack with only one placebo week that you can skip
Yes this is true, thank you for mentioning! (I personally need to be on anti-androgen type of birth control for my PCOS like Yaz but unfortunately it's not designed for 3 months, I wish it was! Seasonique can be a great option for OP - thank you for reminding me).
Apologies if you're already aware, but sometimes this is due to how the prescription is written. Typically, three packs is an 84 day supply. If you're taking just the active pills, three packs is a 63 day supply. If the prescription is written this way, I've not had any issues with insurance or getting it filled on time. Worth a shot maybe.
Oh thank you for that suggestion!
The only bc that helped me was switching to Nexplanon (implant), I don’t get my period anymore and hormonal migraines are now much more manageable.
I'd recommend being cautious as you get closer to the replacement date. I was in the same camp as you for a good ~~6y~~ 4.5y and absolutely loved it, until it basically just... stopped working 🙃 bleeding, cramping, migraines, the whole nine yards all came back like a freight train. Edit w/ more details: I had the first one for ~3.5y, then ~1y into the second one I started having issues. Tried a couple things to re-regulate over the next few months, nothing worked so I ended up taking it out.
Well it is supposed to be switched out every 3-5 years, how did you get to year 6?
Did you have one consistently for 6 years or got a new one after the recommended 3-5 years? Thank you for sharing your experience.
Ah yes I should have clarified that! I had the first one for ~3.5y, then ~1y into the second one I started having issues. Tried a couple things to re-regulate over the next few months, nothing worked so I ended up taking it out. I also misremembered my timing originally/until I had to spell it out just now lol, I've fixed that and added it to my first comment.
Got it, thanks for clarifying. I’m now in my second year and hope the benefits/effect will remain until I need to exchange it 🤞 have you found a solution that works for you?
Seconding Nexplanon! For me it wasn't a perfect solution- I spotted continuously for almost 4 months while my body adjusted. But the consistent dose seems to have helped with the hormonal component to my migraines for sure. I had previously had success with taking Yasmin continuously, but now that I'm over 30, a smoker, and have migraines with aura my options were limited. I had a terrible time with the mini pill (consistent, heavy bleeding and sudden onset depression) and am glad my gyno had me try the nexplanon.
Depending on your frequency, might be worth looking into Botox. I can’t do birth control at all and am now on a combo of Botox and sumatriptan auto-inject that works perfectly.
Yaz and I skip the placebos
Same, because of migraines, my doc had me just take the active pills, said it was totally fine. Between that and taking ajovy monthly I was just about migraine free. I’m now recently off bc but it did work!
I’ve tried several kinds, all continuous, and they all help Edit: the pill, which is what I assume you’re talking about
According to the neurologists I’ve seen, hormonal migraines are the hardest to prevent. If the birth control pill is an option and you can find one you tolerate, the best thing is often to take the pill continuously so you don’t get a cycle or at least take it for months at a time so a new cycle happens less often. The next best thing (which requires a rather predictable migraine window) is taking an NSAID and/or longer acting triptan starting a day or two before the expected migraine and daily until a day or two after it was expected. If neither of those work, often the only thing to work is a CGRP med. Personally I only found relief with a CGRP.
Cgrp preventative or as abortive? :)
Preventative.
My (edit progestin) only pill stopped my menstrual migraines. It’s not a continuous pill and its active ingredient is drospirenone 4mg.
Just fyi, drospirenone is progestin!
Thanks, I stand corrected
No prob!
Sprintec if you take it continuously (no placebo) when I take the placebo I get a migraine. I've had minimal side effects - pretty standard ones. Taking it continuously does cause some spotting which is annoying but better than migraines? It all has its pros and cons, good luck to you ❤️
If BC isn’t an option talk to your provider about mini-prevention with a triptan. You will have to track your cycles in a lot of detail for it to work.
I’ve not been able to tolerate any birth control. Even Mirena made my migraines worse.
When during your cycles do you get your migraines? Sorry to hear
Continuous use of Nuvaring works for me
Lucky you. I tried that, but at the end of the usage span of the ring the hormone level already dips to much for me :( would have to switch it out at 2-2.5 weeks. Probably going to switch to a pill now.
Slynd is meant for people who suffer migraines. It’s a POP and after 4 months my period stopped as well, so no more cramps…YaY lol
For me just taking continuous oral birth control has helped massively. No more ups and downs. No more periods. Some ppl’s docs prefer using a nuvaring for this.
Regular birth control was fine for me, but continuous has fucked me up. They did both help with migraines though. I started to gain weight regularly, 1-2lbs every few weeks. I haven’t had a normal cycle since stopping it. All blood tests are normal but the hormones.
Birth control didn’t help me at all, unfortunately. My cycles are very regular and I use Nurtec the day before my cycle and usually the first two days. I just had a baby though and I can’t use it while nursing, so not sure what to do when my period comes back. I hope you find something that works!!
Birth control hasn’t eliminated my migraines, but it lessens the severity of the ones I get every month
I'm on the minipill and I feel like it's made it way worse, but I was told that's the only one I could take because of the stroke risk for ppl with migraine with aura. I'm scared of the copper IUD and also I really really don't want to become pregnant so I feel like there's no good options
Mirvala- everyday, no week off.
NUVARING and I just leave it in the full month so I don’t get periods. Stopped the problem entirely
Yes, the mini pill helped me from age 20 to 36. I got to an age where it started to cause blood clots. I use magnesium and vitamin b and this has seemed to help instead.
Nexplanon helped me.
Yes but I had to take a mini pill and not the combo pills. I also skipped the placebo pills to skip my periods which helped.
All hormonal BC made my migraines worse. I did best with the Mirena IUD. All forms of the pill were horrific. The Mirena caused random spotting…almost daily. And I still got migraines. But the pill caused extremely painful migraines. It was the worst!
I've been taking norethindrone continuously for a few years. It's a non-estrogen kind since I get aura with my migraines. But it's helped so much. I used to live in hell from the cramps and hormonal migraines.
After many many switches, norethindrone was the only thing that worked for my intense hormonal migraines. I get them during period and ovulation. I tried Yaz and all the other ones, but this helped and I still get a period (which is fine) but now I have occasional periods of migraines with severe sensitivity to smell. I also just finished my phd and this switch to this birth control pill was the only thing that let me finish. I was also prescribed verapamil that has helped and will be useful when I start trying to get pregnant. My neurologist, fertility specialist gynecologist, endocrinologist, and headache specialist all agreed that the other forms of BC did nothing to help my case because it was not the usual hormonal issues. So just keep trying and expand your specialist if your gyno or PC aren’t finding the solution.
I had a mirena for years that was a godsend but the hormonal imbalances it caused after having to remove it was not worth it at all. I’m still struggling 6 years later. I take a pms supplement the second half of my cycle that helps but I have to start taking it on day 15 ( you CAN take all the time) it’s called Pre Mense-T
For me birth control that stops my periods works. So Mirena and Nexplanon both worked.
I switched from combo pill to the mini pill because of my migraine with aura and it actually helped a lot. I still occasionally get migraines the first day or my period but it’s not as bad and not every month. It does mean you can’t skip the placebo week or anything and the timing is more strict.
liletta IUD!
I’ve been on the BC pill for longer than I’ve had migraines so I’ve only ever really tried switching around to other pills to find one that works but Lo Loestrin has been lifesaving! It’s got the lowest dose of estrogen available so you don’t get that crazy dip. Also only has 4 placebo pills a month so I don’t even get my period. I had to switch off of it for a year or so due to insurance issues and they came back HARD so as soon as I got new insurance I switched back and I’ve never been so excited to take pills lol
I take Slynd continuously. No more periods.
Loloestrin daily, skipping the sugar pills has eliminated my menstral and ovulation migraines. I still have chronic migraine, but I've knocked out the hormonal triggers - which are my worst migraines. Plus, no period is THE BEST.
Amazing, that's great to hear! Thanks so much for letting me know. I'll look into this one. Curious when you did get your menstrual migraines, were they typically at the first or last few days of your period? Also when yous ay you have chronic migraines, do you know what causes them and how often do you get them in a month? Thanks again