Birth Control Forum - Birth Control And Migraines

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Intense pain, sensitivity to light and nausea. All signs of a migraine. But what is a migraine headache? And what can trigger it? Migraine basics here....

Q: Birth Control And Migraines

asked by: Georgia59 on April 11th, 2007

Especially eHealthy

Hi everyone- I am trying to find a new method of birth control and don't know what to do. I was on the nuvaring as my first method, and I had no side effects until I had been taking it for about a year and I started getting a stinging feeling whenever I had sex. Then I went to see a new gyn. because I had moved and she said I couldn't use a b/c method that contained estrogen because it increased the risk of stroke too much (because of my history of migraines with visual symptoms, tunnel vision, etc.) So I got the mirena IUD. I can see why some people love it, I haven't gotten my period at all, but it is 9 months later and I am still getting cramps about weekly and I have gained about 20 lbs. I also think it is making me very moody/depressed and irritable. I want to switch to something else, but are there other progesterone-only methods that don't cause weight gain? The doctors said it wouldn't but obviously it did. Or what non-hormonal methods does anyone suggest?

Thanks!

Replies(5)

Akkette

replied on April 17th, 2007

Experienced User

There is a needle you can have (deprovera) and this is a progesterone-only conroceptive (i believe). Definately speak with your doctor or go to a family planning clinic and they should be able to give you all the information you need.

I was on deprovera for about 12 months. Was great as you didnt need to remember to take a pill and so on but i did have a few side affects from it such as depression and weight gain. Side effects are different for everyone however. Just a matter of doing your research.

Good Luck

Natalie

Georgia59

replied on April 17th, 2007

Especially eHealthy

Thanks for the input. I guess I'll just have to start trying things.

I just don't want to gain more weight!!!!

Birth control sucks.

goddessofissues

replied on April 17th, 2007

New User

Hello

I have had about the same problem, mood swings and migraines from birth control, ever since i had my tubes fixed i have had a problem with bleeding for months on end i have gone to the doctor about it several times because it gets so bad that i cant even get up and keep energy.
They had me on double hormones that didn't even help..they put me on a water pill split with a hormone because all the bleeding had started to make my feet swell horribly.
So i called my mom and found out that all this was genetic. 6 out 7 women who have gone threw this after the age of 26 had to have their uterus taken out by the time they were 33.
I told my doctor this and They said they cannot do anything about it unless I'm hemorrhaging. They said that if they put me on the table and do a hysterectomy that if i die they don't want to be blamed (literally)...i can understand there worries, but every time i have a period now i bleed for 2 weeks to a month.
what do you think i should do?????

Georgia59

replied on April 17th, 2007

Especially eHealthy

That sounds really awful.

Personally, I'd get the hysterectomy- if you are sure you don't want to have kids (or can't) I don't see why it is necessary to be going through all that. Of course, there are a lot of implications from the surgery and it might be considered elective (so maybe it wouldn't be covered by insurance). Also risky. However, I don't think many people die on the table when they're getting a hysterectomy! But it's always a possibility. You are in a rough position.

Georgia59

replied on April 20th, 2007

Especially eHealthy

Just an update- I spoke to my doc about it and I got the IUD out. I am now on Loestrin. She said the migraines would only be a problem if I started getting them more often. Kind've like a 'we'll have to monitor your condition' kind of thing. I am so glad to have gotten rid of the IUD, it came out like a breeze. The doc thinks maybe it wasn't in all the way, but we'll never know now, will we? The only thing that still hurts is that I paid so much for the IUD.

On a side note, she is checking my thyroid levels because I have gained 20 lbs in the last 7 months. I thought it was just the birth control but she wasn't entirely convinced, and thyroid problems run in my family. Don't blame everything on birth control!!

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