Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Gender and Migraine pp 81–88Cite as

Migraine and Use of Progestin-Only Contraception

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

  • 627 Accesses

Part of the book series: Headache ((HEAD))

Abstract

Progestin-only contraception (POC) is not associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular events. In contrast to combined hormonal contraceptives, POC does not increase frequency of migraine attacks and does not initiate migraine. The continuous use of this contraceptive might contribute to the good tolerability in migraineurs. Only for the progestin-only pill with desogestrel 75 μg has it been demonstrated in several studies that it exerts significant reduction in migraine days and migraine intensity. This observation was made for migraine with and without aura. The LNG_IUS 20 is not well tolerated by many migraineurs, potentially as a result of highly fluctuating estrogen levels caused from ovarian cysts.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Cutler SM, Cekic M, Miller DM, Wali B, VanLandingham JW, Stein DG. Progesterone improves acute recovery after traumatic brain injury in the aged rat. J Neurotrauma. 2007;24(9):1475–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Wright DW, Kellermann AL, Hertzberg VS, Clark PL, Frankel M, Goldstein FC, et al. ProTECT: a randomized clinical trial of progesterone for acute traumatic brain injury. Ann Emerg Med. 2007;49(4):391–402. e1-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Hussain R, El-Etr M, Gaci O, Rakotomamonjy J, Macklin WB, Kumar N, et al. Progesterone and Nestorone facilitate axon remyelination: a role for progesterone receptors. Endocrinology. 2011;152(10):3820–31.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Xiao G, Wei J, Yan W, Wang W, Lu Z. Improved outcomes from the administration of progesterone for patients with acute severe traumatic brain injury: a randomized controlled trial. Crit Care. 2008;12(2):R61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Schumacher M, Mattern C, Ghoumari A, Oudinet JP, Liere P, Labombarda F, et al. Revisiting the roles of progesterone and allopregnanolone in the nervous system: resurgence of the progesterone receptors. Prog Neurobiol. 2014;113:6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Chauvel V, Schoenen J, Multon S. Influence of ovarian hormones on cortical spreading depression and its suppression by L-kynurenine in rat. PLoS One. 2013;8(12):e82279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Prange-Kiel J, Rune GM, Zwirner M, Wallwiener D, Kiesel L. Regulation of estrogen receptor alpha and progesterone receptor (isoform A and B) expression in cultured human endometrial cells. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2001;109(4):231–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Aguirre C, Jayaraman A, Pike C, Baudry M. Progesterone inhibits estrogen-mediated neuroprotection against excitotoxicity by down-regulating estrogen receptor-beta. J Neurochem. 2010;115(5):1277–87.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Jayaraman A, Pike CJ. Progesterone attenuates oestrogen neuroprotection via downregulation of oestrogen receptor expression in cultured neurones. J Neuroendocrinol. 2009;21(1):77–81.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Joshi G, Pradhan S, Mittal B. Role of the oestrogen receptor (ESR1 PvuII and ESR1 325 C->G) and progesterone receptor (PROGINS) polymorphisms in genetic susceptibility to migraine in a North Indian population. Cephalalgia. 2010;30(3):311–20.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Buse DC, Reed ML, Fanning KM, Kurth T, Lipton RB. Cardiovascular events, conditions, and procedures among people with episodic migraine in the US population: results from the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention (AMPP) study. Headache. 2017;57(1):31–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Roos-Hesselink JW, Cornette J, Sliwa K, Pieper PG, Veldtman GR, Johnson MR. Contraception and cardiovascular disease. Eur Heart J. 2015;36(27):1728–34. 34a-34b.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Merki-Feld GS, Imthurn B, Langner R, Sandor PS, Gantenbein AR. Headache frequency and intensity in female migraineurs using desogestrel-only contraception: a retrospective pilot diary study. Cephalalgia. 2013;33(5):340–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Merki-Feld GS, Imthurn B, Langner R, Seifert B, Gantenbein AR. Positive effects of the progestin desogestrel 75 mug on migraine frequency and use of acute medication are sustained over a treatment period of 180 days. J Headache Pain. 2015;16:522.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Morotti M, Remorgida V, Venturini PL, Ferrero S. Progestin-only contraception compared with extended combined oral contraceptive in women with migraine without aura: a retrospective pilot study. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2014;183:178–82.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Nappi RE, Sances G, Allais G, Terreno E, Benedetto C, Vaccaro V, et al. Effects of an estrogen-free, desogestrel-containing oral contraceptive in women with migraine with aura: a prospective diary-based pilot study. Contraception. 2011;83(3):223–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Nappi RE, Merki-Feld GS, Terreno E, Pellegrinelli A, Viana M. Hormonal contraception in women with migraine: is progestogen-only contraception a better choice? J Headache Pain. 2013;14:66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Warhurst S, Rofe CJ, Brew BJ, Bateson D, McGeechan K, Merki-Feld GS, et al. Effectiveness of the progestin-only pill for migraine treatment in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cephalalgia. 2018;38:754.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Merki-Feld GS, Imthurn B, Seifert B, Merki LL, Agosti R, Gantenbein AR. Desogestrel-only contraception may reduce headache frequency and improve quality of life in women suffering from migraine. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2013;18(5):394–400.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Cutrer FM, Moskowitz MA. Wolff Award 1996. The actions of valproate and neurosteroids in a model of trigeminal pain. Headache. 1996;36(10):579–85.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Multon S, Pardutz A, Mosen J, Hua MT, Defays C, Honda S, et al. Lack of estrogen increases pain in the trigeminal formalin model: a behavioural and immunocytochemical study of transgenic ArKO mice. Pain. 2005;114(1-2):257–65.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Bolay H, Berman NE, Akcali D. Sex-related differences in animal models of migraine headache. Headache. 2011;51(6):891–904.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Liu A, Margaill I, Zhang S, Labombarda F, Coqueran B, Delespierre B, et al. Progesterone receptors: a key for neuroprotection in experimental stroke. Endocrinology. 2012;153(8):3747–57.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Kokate TG, Svensson BE, Rogawski MA. Anticonvulsant activity of neurosteroids: correlation with gamma-aminobutyric acid-evoked chloride current potentiation. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1994;270(3):1223–9.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department for Reproductive Endocrinology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

    Gabriele S. Merki-Feld

Authors
  1. Gabriele S. Merki-Feld
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gabriele S. Merki-Feld .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pharmacology and Vascular Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Antoinette Maassen van den Brink

  2. Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK

    E. Anne MacGregor

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Merki-Feld, G.S. (2019). Migraine and Use of Progestin-Only Contraception. In: Maassen van den Brink, A., MacGregor, E. (eds) Gender and Migraine. Headache. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02988-3_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02988-3_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-02987-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-02988-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation