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Migraines with aura cause sensory disturbances such as blind spots, flashing lights, or odd patterns. If you suffer from these migraines, it’s important to seek options that provide relief without compromising your health. Although many may visit their women’s health provider to inquire about birth control for migraines, it’s important to recognize these risks first. 

Associated Risks of Stroke Development

women's healthTreating migraines while also taking birth control can be a process for patients. The goal is to ultimately find a product that is both safe and effective. Contraceptives containing hormones are designed to regulate the changes in the body that cause migraines, helping minimize pain. 

However, hormonal birth control may increase the patient’s risk of suffering from a stroke if they experience migraines with aura or migraines that affect their ability to talk, induce numbness, or cause them to see odd patterns. According to the American Migraine Foundation, women over the age of 45 who suffer from this type of migraine are at a greater risk of suffering from an ischemic stroke.

The hormones in contraceptives can increase this likelihood because they contain elevated levels of estrogen that increase blood clots. If the clot develops in an artery that delivers blood to the brain, a stroke may occur.

Non-Hormonal Birth Control Options

There are options that women’s health care providers can offer in lieu of hormonal contraceptives. Non-hormonal birth control methods include copper intrauterine devices that are implanted into the uterus, as well as barriers like condoms and diaphragms.

Your doctor will need to weigh the risk factors to provide the best option based on your personal health concerns. In general, patients who suffer from migraines with aura or have other risk factors of stroke, like obesity and hypertension, should look more closely at non-hormonal options.
 

Are you seeking a trustworthy gynecologist in Anchorage and Wasilla, AK? Turn to Caring For Women. The area’s leading women’s health care provider is proud to offer a welcoming and comfortable space where you can discuss your most intimate concerns. You can trust them to provide you with the level of personalized and distinctive care you expect. Visit the women’s health clinic online for more information, or call (907) 279-2229 to schedule an appointment.

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