Hormonal Birth Control

[inutsuki.livejournal.com]

Hello all! I've been on the combined birth control pill for approximately the past 6 years - I'm now 20. I started in part because my periods were horrendously irregular and I had debilitating cramping, but the primary reason was because of my acne. It worked beautifully at the time and saved me from having to go on accutane.

Fast-forward 6 years and I'm now suffering from migraine with aura, and had a nurse shout at me for being on the combined pill. I'm currently doing a trial run off the pill - stopped at the end of my last cycle 2 days ago, aaand now I'm bleeding again, so not looking too good! I've been prescribed vitamin A for my acne now anyway because I had some that was cystic.

So to my questions! First off, does anyone have any information regarding the increased risk of stroke when a woman with aura migraines is on the combined pill? I'm a third year medical student, so technical links are fine! Second question, what should I expect coming off the pill? Should I keep trying or give up? And finally, is the progestogen only pill useful for acne?

For the record, I do plan on asking my GP, so definitely not looking for concrete medical advice. I'd just like some background information before I close off the avenue of combined birth control.

(Note: I'm not sexually active, so at this point it isn't a concern being off the pill in that respect.)

Thanks in advance!

ETA: I'm also hypothyroid if that's relevant.

Comments

[fireaphid.livejournal.com]

I Googled "stroke migraine aura estrogen," and this was the first hit: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/711522. The "Study Corroborates With Earlier Finding" section discusses the much older result the nurse was probably referring to.

Progestin-only methods aren't effective in treating acne, so you might be out of luck on using birth control to treat acne. Maybe ask your doctor about going on a testosterone blocker, like spironolactone, instead. (This was my dermatologist's suggestion because I, too, have migraine with aura and nothing else has helped my acne.)

[archangelbeth]

Keep track of your thyroid levels. Estrogen interferes with the thyroid hormone, so if you were stable on HBC, then you may become slightly hyper when off it. (And your natural periods may have a chance of regulating if your thyroid levels are good.)

I don't know about the rest... good luck!

[nightmer.livejournal.com]

Acne's actually listed as a possible side effect for PoP pills, but I feel like it's calmed down mine significantly after OTC-lo made it cystic. No links unfortunately, but I have crazy blood pressure and migraines and no doctor's fussed about me being on a minipill (which I love, btw).