Birth control headaches might not sound like a very serious side effect of birth control, but they may be a sign of a more serious disorder known as pseudotumor cerebri.  

Pseudotumor cerebri has been reported in patients taking a variety of types of birth control, including IUD birth control implants and birth control pills. A birth control headache lawsuit investigation has been launched to explore the possibility of a birth control class action lawsuit related to pseudotumor cerebri.

What is Pseudotumor Cerebri?

The disorder pseudotumor cerebri, albeit clouded in medical jargon, very literally means “false brain tumor”.  And this side effect of contraceptives is just that – a buildup of fluid that mimics the characteristics of a brain tumor. This is because both pseudotumor cerebri and brain tumors cause problems by putting pressure on the brain, causing neurological problems.

Birth Control and Headaches

Birth control headaches caused by pseudotumor cerebri typically come with a myriad of related symptoms. These birth control headaches are typically severe and feel like they are right behind the eyes. Some women who suffer from pseudotumor cerebri have said that eye movement seems to make the headaches worse. Birth control headaches from pseudotumor cerebri may also be accompanied by nausea, a ringing sound, and neck or back pain.

Headaches from oral contraceptives or devices like Mirena birth control can also go hand-in-hand with vision problems. Since the pressure in the brain can press on the optic nerve, this can cause tunnel vision, blurred vision, and in extreme cases, blindness. Seeing flashes of light is also a pseudotumor cerebri symptom. Additionally, the blindness associated with pseudotumor cerebri headaches may happen only in one eye, or may appear as short blindness spells. Pressure on the optic nerve seen in pseudotumor cerebri can vary considerably in terms of the specific symptoms across different patients.

Birth Control Lawsuits

This birth control lawsuit investigation alleges that birth control manufacturers were aware—or should have been aware—of the risk of pseudotumor cerebri associated with birth control but continued to aggressively promote their birth control products, leading to cases of pseudotumor cerebri and related problems. In the past, similar suits have sought to recoup medical costs, legal fees, and other costs allegedly linked to side effects.