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NEUROLOGY 2006;66:349-353
© 2006 American Academy of Neurology

Oral contraceptives and increased headache prevalence

The Head-HUNT Study

K. Aegidius, MD, J. -A. Zwart, MD, PhD, K. Hagen, MD, PhD, B. Schei, MD, PhD and L. J. Stovner, MD, PhD

From the Department of Neuroscience, Norwegian National Headache Centre (K.A., J.-A.Z., K.H., L.J.S.), and National Centre for Spinal Disorders (J.-A.Z.), St. Olav's University Hospital, Trondheim; Departments of Neuroscience (K.A., J.-A.Z., K.H., L.J.S.) and Community Medicine and General Practice (B.S.), Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; and Department of Clinical Neuroscience (K.A.), Glostrup University Hospital, Denmark.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Karen Aegidius, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Glostrup University Hospital, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark; e-mail: k.aegidius{at}dadlnet.dk

Objective: To examine the prevalence of headache and migraine among women using oral contraceptives (OCs) in a large, cross-sectional population-based study.

Methods: In the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study in Norway 1995–1997 (HUNT 2), 27,700 (60%) out of 46,506 invited women responded to headache questions (Head-HUNT). Among 14,353 premenopausal women, 13,944 (97%) responded to questions regarding use of contraceptives.

Results: There was a significant association between headache and reported use of estrogen-containing OCs in premenopausal women, both for migraine (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.2 to 1.7) and for non-migrainous headache (OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.0 to 1.4). A significant dose relationship between headache and the amount of estrogen in the OCs could not be demonstrated. No significant association between headache and OCs containing only gestagen was found.

Conclusion: Headache, especially migraine, was more likely among premenopausal women using oral contraceptives containing estrogen.

The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (The HUNT Study) is a collaboration between The HUNT Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Verdal, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, and Nord-Trøndelag County Council.

Disclosure: The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Received February 24, 2005. Accepted in final form October 24, 2005.


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