Does Migraine Affect Fertility?

For example, ill-timed migraines that may coincide with your ovulation time may prevent you from planning to have a baby properly. The stress stemming from headaches may negatively impact sexual desires.

Aside from this, migraines may cause certain hormonal disturbances that may also cause fertility-related issues.

Though there is limited research to prove a direct relationship between migraine and infertility, evidence-based studies do show that having frequent migraines may, to a certain extent, interfere with your fertility.

The Intersection of Migraines and Fertility

Migraine does not directly affect fertility but it can surely reduce your interest in the act necessary for family planning. Migraine can impact your fertility in several indirect ways such as

1. Increased Stress or Tension

There is a give-and-take relationship between stress and migraine. Stress causes migraine and migraine causes more stress. As migraine is a genetic problem with around 34 to 64 percent rate of hereditary transmission, the person with migraine may show reluctance to pass on this irritating problem to the next generation.

2. An Increase in Migraines During Ovulation

According to a report published by the American Headache Society, around 60 percent of women suffer from migraines during ovulation and menstruation time. And it is during this ovulation time of the month when a woman becomes the most fertile. So having a severe migraine during the ovulation period is bad news for your reproductivity as you will surely not feel like having sex with a migraine already banging in your head.

3. Endometriosis

Endometriosis can be a common cause behind both migraine and infertility. In endometriosis, unwanted tissues develop outside the uterus that can cause painful menstruation and infertility in the long run.

4. Fear of Having Frequent Migraines

Fear of the severity and harmful side effects of migraine during pregnancy also insists many women retreat from family planning. As per a report published by ScienceDirect, around 73% of women with migraine believe that their migraine will get worse during pregnancy. This concern is not quite true as pregnancy on the contrary reduces migraine because of the surge of the estrogen hormone. However, some medicines for migraine can be harmful to the baby. The IVF treatment and certain infertility medicines can also increase migraines.

Understanding Migraines: Causes And Triggers

To handle migraine and conception and the upcoming pregnancy at the same time you need to understand the disease its causes and triggers.

Migraine is a neurological problem that remains prevalent between 15 to 55 years. It is a severe type of headache in which throbbing pain occurs on either one side or both sides of the head. Headaches are often accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Some people with migraines may also experience aura, a condition where the person witnesses visual disturbances such as flashing lights, and blind spots.

The exact cause behind migraine is yet to be discovered. Certain changes in the brainstem and their impact on the trigeminal nerve are generally taken as the possible cause of migraine. Almost 80% of people with migraines have close relatives with the same problem. According to another study published in the American Headache Society, women are more prone to migraines than men due to the fluctuations of estrogen during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. Additionally, stress, dehydration, lack of sleep, high-pitched sounds, bright light, smoking, and drinking can be the triggers of migraines in both men and women.

Migraines And Female Fertility

Migraine is closely associated with female fertility. Women with migraines can notice differences in the severity and frequency of their migraines in different stages of their menstrual cycle.  Factors that connect migraines with female fertility are

1. Menstrual Migraine

This type of migraine occurs just before menstruation and stays for a few days until your estrogen levels go up again.

2. Contraceptive Pills

Using birth control pills can trigger migraines in women because of the hormonal changes resulting from them.

3. Pregnancy

While the first and third trimesters can be turbulent because of stress and health complications, many women experience relief from migraines in their second trimester. The increased estrogen levels to secure the conception helps to manage migraines internally.

4. Postpartum Migraine

After childbirth, migraines can surge back as the estrogen levels go down.

5. Menopause

Massive hormonal changes occur as a woman approaches menopause. The hormonal changes during this perimenopausal stage or post-menopause can either subdue migraine or make it more severe.

For women, migraine is mostly associated with hormonal fluctuations that are eminent in their fertile years. Consulting a gynecologist as well as a neurologist can bring out a solution for the problem of migraine and fertility in women.

Male Fertility And Migraines

Male fertility is also indirectly affected by their migraine problems. Migraine impacts on male fertility in ways such as

1. Psychological Impact And Reduction in Sexual Activities

A chronic migraine can impact the work life and personal life of a man. Stress, lack of productivity, anxiety, and depression can occur due to any of such chronic diseases that can directly impact their performance in bed.

2. Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes can cause migraines along with infertility. Fluctuations in testosterone levels can cause dilation in blood vessels and more sensitivity to pain. Estrogen, though present in very small quantities in men, can cause migraines and infertility. Hormonal imbalance in men can cause various fertility problems such as erectile dysfunction, low sperm count, and serious diseases like prostate cancer.

3. Lifestyle Effects

Migraines are accompanied by sleepless nights, a decrease in appetite, and lots of stress on the body and mind. All these factors will surely affect your fertility.

Migraine Management Before Pregnancy

Having a proper migraine management plan is important before you try to conceive. With proper treatment and timely care, you can successfully get pregnant and give birth while controlling your migraine. Here are some tips for you;

1. Understand And Limit Your Migraine Triggers

Know what food or activities trigger your migraine. Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and cigarettes is a must. You will have to avoid workload, physical exhaustion, and late sleep as they are some common triggers of migraine.

2. Lifestyle Changes

You will have to limit your screen time and give at least 6 to 8 hours of sound sleep to yourself. To relax your mind, give at least 30 minutes for yoga or meditation. Avoid junk food and beverages and have organic food as much as you can.

3. Keep a Migraine Diary

Write the dates, time, duration, intensity, and frequency of your migraine attacks. Notice if the patterns of your migraine change. Inform it to your specialist to manage it properly.
Consult a neurologist as well as a gynecologist before conception- if you have a chronic migraine or severe painful migraine attacks then consulting specialists before family planning is wise. They will give you proper plans, supplements, and medicines to maintain migraines during pregnancy.

With proper management planning, you will be able to understand your migraine triggers and how to avoid them. You can also prepare yourself for the sudden increase in migraine in the postpartum period when estrogen level drops drastically. By understanding migraines, you will also be able to help your baby in case they develop migraines in the future.

So, proper sleep, relaxation therapy, massages, and a healthy diet is a must to control migraine and prepare your body for childbearing. For men too, a stress-free mind and healthy lifestyle is important to control migraine and increase fertility. To conclude, we can say that migraines can impact your fertility by reducing your desire to reproduce. But with little precautions and care you can manage both your migraine and your baby like a pro.

FAQ’s

1. Can Migraines Affect Fertility in Women?

Yes, migraine can affect a woman’s fertility in various indirect ways. Migraine during the fertile ovulation period can restrict you from sexual activities necessary for reproduction. A chronic migraine can distress you psychologically and reduce your will to enhance the family line as migraine is a genetic problem. The concern that medicines for migraine may harm the fetus can also obstruct your fertility journey.

2. What Migraine Medications Are Safe to Use During Conception And Pregnancy?

Paracetamol is a safe and primary drug treatment for migraine pain during pregnancy. You can also take low-dose aspirin and ibuprofen in the first and second trimesters. Prochlorperazine is also safe to take for nausea during pregnancy.