Missing birth-control pills can cause headaches or migraines due to lower estrogen levels, especially when pills are missed at the beginning of a new pack or before the period.
Notes on verification
Confirmed by clinical/diagnostic criteria (ICHD-3 estrogen-withdrawal headache), peer-reviewed studies (Ob & Gynecology 2000, AJOG 2005 systematic review), and consumer health sources (Mayo Clinic, Hey Jane) that converge on the same mechanism and timing details. [tier=silver indep_score=0.56 clusters=5 claim_tier=notable | framework convergence=partial on Estrogen-withdrawal headache mechanism as codified in ICHD-3 and supported by clinical trial data (upstreams: ICHD-3 (International Classification of Headache Disorders), Loder et al. 2005 AJOG systematic review, Ob & Gynecology 2000 hormone withdrawal study) — publishers independent, evidence may not be | kind=empirical eligibility=high (extractor: empirical/medium)]
Sources
- Miss a Birth Control Pill? Side Effects, What to Do - WebMD (seed:health_and_medicine)
- https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(05)00065-7/fulltext (corroboration)
- https://ichd-3.org/8-headache-attributed-to-a-substance-or-its-withdrawal/8-3-headache-attributed-to-substance-withdrawal/8-3-3-estrogen-withdrawal-headache/ (corroboration)
- https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/abstract/2000/02000/hormone_withdrawal_symptoms_in_oral_contraceptive.18.aspx (corroboration)
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-daily-headaches/in-depth/headaches/art-20046729 (corroboration)
- https://www.heyjane.com/articles/what-to-do-when-you-miss-a-birth-control-pill (corroboration)