Effect of oral contraceptive pills on severity and frequency of migraine headache

Introduction: Migraine is a common neurovascular disorder characterized by severe
attacks of headache and autonomic symptoms. The peak of migraine prevalence is
child-bearing years in women, the age in which they use oral contraceptive pills
(OCP). The effect of OCPs on migraine headache course is mentioned different in
various studies, hence this survey was conducted to evaluate the effect of OCPs on
the severity of migraine headache.
Methods: This clinical trial included 44 under forty women with documented
migraine headache according to HIS criteria. The severity, duration and frequency of
migraine headaches, before and after two courses of LD OCPs were compared.
SPSS software and Chi-square test was used for data analysis. P<0.05 was
considered statistical significant.
Results: Headach severity was increased in 36.3% and decreased in 11.4% of cases
(P<0.05). Duration of attacks was elongated in 36.8% and shortened in 15.9% of the
patients (P<0.05), but relapse or frequency were of no significant difference.
Conclusion: It seems that OCPs exacerbate migraine headache in one-third of cases.