Migraine, stroke and the pill

Are you on the contraceptive pill? Do you get migraines? While the contraceptive pill is a safe and fantastic medication, there are also some potential side effects. In certain circumstances it can increase your risk of DVT - deep venous thrombosis. Factors that increase this risk, include smoking, or being overweight. If you suffer from migraines there can be an increased risk of stroke. In this instance the term migraine is used to describe a specific kind of headache diagnosed by a GP or specialist, not just a bad headache, and the risk with the contraceptive pill is specifically linked to migraine with aura, where your vision changes in some way.

The risk of these adverse events is very low, and for the vast majority of women, the pill is an excellent form of contraception.  And you will not be expected to make a decision about the risks and benefits yourself. Your GP should be prescribing within recommended clinical guidelines which state for example that the combined contraceptive pill should not be prescribed to women with migraines with aura, or to smokers over the aged of 35 years, or for any women with a BMI greater than 35. 

Unfortunately, important details like risk factors get missed and it's worth checking with your GP, next time you get your next pill script, that it is a safe option for you.  If you've had lots of GPs along the way and the GP you see for your current script knows that you've been on your pill for a long time, they may assume that it's safe for you and keep the script going. In this way important details get missed.  

Next time you get your script filled, check with your GP that there are no reasons why it may not be the best option for you. And if it's not a good option, don't despair - there are some excellent alternatives that you can check out here and discuss with your doctor.