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Risk of taking oral contraceptives in patients with a history of migraine with neurological signs

Vivienne F Bernath, Ornella Clavisi and Jeremy N Anderson
Med J Aust 2002; 176 (5): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2002.tb04382.x
Published online: 4 March 2002

"What is the risk of taking oral contraceptives in patients with a history of migraine with transient neurological signs?" A woman with a history of migraine associated with hemiparaesthesia, and possibly dysphasia, attended her general practitioner suffering from irregular and frequent menstrual cycles. The doctor considered treatment with oral contraceptives to control her cycles and possibly relieve her migraine attacks. He asked about the risk of treatment with oral contraceptives, compared with no treatment, in a patient with transient neurological signs associated with migraine.


  • Centre for Clinical Effectiveness, Southern Health/Monash Institute of Health Services Research, Clayton, VIC.


Correspondence: cce@med.monash.edu.au

Acknowledgements: 

This search was conducted as part of a project supported by a General Practice Evaluation Project grant, GPEP 720, the AQUA project, from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care. Information about the project, including clinical questions and answers, can be found at

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  • 4. World Health Organization Collaborative Study of Cardiovascular Disease and Steroid Hormone Contraception. Haemorrhagic stroke, overall stroke risk, and combined oral contraceptives: results of an international, multicentre, case-control study. Lancet 1996; 348: 505-510.

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