Claudia’s comment enables us to talk about headaches (cephalia), a relatively common disorder in women of childbearing age. There are different types of headaches, and before taking the pill, you should discuss this with your gynecologist because the combined pill is not recommended for everyone.
- The common tension headache (non-migraine headache), is not a contraindication for using the combined pill, or for continuing to use it if the headache occurs during intake.
- A migraine without an aura does not constitute a contraindication to the use of combination hormonal contraceptives (CHCs) according to the latest World Health Organization guidelines.
- In the case of migraines with an aura, this risk increases further such that all international guidelines absolutely contraindicate the use of CHCs in women who suffer from it.
If you recognize yourself in any of these cases, your gynecologist’s advice will be invaluable in order to have a competent opinion on alternative solutions. Some papers have documented that progestin-only contraception may be a better option for women who get migraines, but the assessment must be conducted on a case-by-case basis.
