Progestogen-only / Mini pill and migraine with aura

How our community feel they have been impacted by migraine with aura on progestogen-only / Mini pill

Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews

None or not sure

96%

A bit

2%

Quite a bit

1%

A lot

1%

A great deal

1%

Out of the 1431 reviews for progestogen-only / Mini pill, 55 people (4%) reported migraine with aura.

Reviewers that reported migraine with aura as a side effect

Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews

Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

6 - 12 months 15/04/2025 - currently in my third week of me 7th month of the pill. I’ve just had a period after 3 weeks of not bleeding (having pretty much spotting all of the time/constantly bleeding) I feel like we’re finally getting back on track. The period was however thicker and more like ‘old’ blood than usual with a day of normal bleeding. I’ve been quite emotional recently and I’m pretty sure my breast have gotten slightly bigger while being on the pill but I haven’t gone up a bra size. I did put on some weight but I think I’m finally dropping it slowly but it feels slow going. 30/04/2025 - So I had that last period and have been and and off since. I think I’ve only had a couple of days on not bleeding at all or spotting. Today it seems that there is nothing. My boobs definitely feel larger but still not up a bra size. I had an awful breakout last week on my chest and back but my face seems ok/if not better than usual. 12/05/2025 - I’ve just had THE WORST under the skin spots on my chest. Like really really bad to the point I’m going to scar. However, I did just have a period but it lasted 3 days at most. I did feel super strange before it and in pain but not my usual period cramps. More like a full body sensation of pain which wasn’t excruciating but still not pleasant. Otherwise, I’ve been fine on it. I think I had nearly 2 weeks of no bleeding or spotting at all before this small period? 22/05/2025 - I’ve actually been feeling fine recently. I think I only had about 13 days between my last bleed and the small bleed/period that I’ve just had but there was no blood/spotting in between again which was nice. 01/07/2025 - I’ve still been bleeding really regularly. I’m noticing weight gain now that I can’t shift and I’m sweating so much more than usual. I’m at the point where I’m considering going to the GP and telling them I’m coming off of the pill I’m really not having a great time. 17/07/2025 - I’m about month 9 now of starting the pill. I’ve gone from bleeding about every 2 weeks to now having bled for nearly 3 now which is great. I did take a pregnancy test even though pregnancy would be a miracle (we use condoms as well because I definitely don’t want to be pregnant) It was negative. I’ve changed eating habits and have been exercising regularly and my weight is still creeping up. If it doesn’t start to come down soon I’ll be chatting to the GP about it. My mood is also really low. I’ve said this before but the spots on my face are definitely better than they were pre-pill but other body acne/spots are definitely worse. 15/08/2025 - So I still haven’t really had a period. I had a couple of days of cramps and old blood in mucus at the start of this week but nothing I’d really describe as a period. (definitely not pregnant). The issue I’m having is the increased sweating. It’s unbearable. My sister says that she has suffered the same since starting the pill. I’ve never in my life sweat this much. 4/11/25 - Yes it’s been over a year since being on the pill now. I’ve still not had a period since June so I guess it’s decided that it's not happening anymore (not pregnant) Breast tenderness is still here as well.

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Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

After years of being on no contraception I decided to give the Mini Pill another go. It worked for me several years ago but began impacting my mental health so I stopped. This time round I have been more in tune with my body. The first 3-5 days I had itchy nipples. I’ve gained 4kg in a month and my diet hasn’t changed. I have had a headache and neck pain since day one, if I didn’t keep on top of pain relief it would come back. I already have acne prone skin which has took years to get under control and within the first week I developed cystic acne. I’ve felt myself snapping at others in my house over silly things and also felt unable to make decisions. They say to give it 3 months to settle into your system but it’s a no go for me. I cannot deal with the daily head and neck pain, acne and mood issues - so back to condoms we go.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  25th Jul 25

i’m not sure if it is normal but i have been on this pill for 3 months. a week into the taking the pill my period finally came back after around 100 days. since then ive had very irregular periods often bleeding for extended periods of time and also spotting more often with the periods being closer together. i have also experienced much more mood changes as i have felt somewhat more depressed on this pill. this might just be my experience and might also be influenced by the fact i am still going through pubity as i’m 16 yet i still can’t stop thinking that something is wrong .


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill common side effects

Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews

50% of progestogen-only / Mini pill reviewers reported tender breasts

46% of progestogen-only / Mini pill reviewers reported period like cramps

42% of progestogen-only / Mini pill reviewers reported vaginal discharge

40% of progestogen-only / Mini pill reviewers reported breast enlargement

37% of progestogen-only / Mini pill reviewers reported vaginal dryness


Possible progestogen-only / Mini pill side effects

Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews

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