Various birth control products have been alleged to cause major headaches in women. In particular, pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) has been found to occur in women who have used the Mirena IUD and other contraceptives, including the birth control pill Yaz.

Yaz is a popular oral contraceptive that was approved by the FDA in 2006, and is manufactured by Bayer Pharmaceuticals. Yaz consists of two hormones designed to help regulate ovulation, which are the estrogen component ethinyl estradiol, and the fourth-generation progestin drospirenone. While patients claim it is very efficient in its contraceptive mechanism, it has been linked to a number of blood-clot complications, as well as severe migraines.

In 2011 and 2012, the FDA had issued several warnings regarding Yaz blood clots, including some instances where the blood clots actually interfered with the cerebrospinal fluid pathway. Also known as intracranial hypertension (IIH), PTC is a medical condition that occurs when cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the brain and puts a severe amount of pressure on the skull.

This fluid is very important, because it prevents harm to the brain and spinal cord by being an cushy protective layer. According to medical experts, approximately 67 percent of Yaz patients experience severe headaches, which is the most common symptom of PTC.

Overview of Yaz Pseudtumor Cerebri Complications

As of now, experts are unsure why Yaz and other birth control products may be causing PTC, but believe it is likely caused by the fact that some abnormality is preventing the spinal fluid from being properly reabsorbed back in the bloodstream.

When the buildup of this fluid occurs inside the skull, it could create symptoms similar to a brain tumor, which is why it is called a ‘pseudotumor.’ Without knowing the cause, medical experts have been aware of PTC since the 1990s, with the National Institute of Health (NIH) warning that certain birth control pills are likely to cause it.

It is currently unknown how common this occurrence is, but patient reports indicate it is a risk. According to the website ehealthme, patients submitted injury reports that they suffered severe headaches after being prescribed Yaz. These reports were gathered from the FDA and other social media outlets.

On March 9, 2015, approximately 29,105 women reported suffering side effects while taking Yaz, with 14 (0.05 percent) patients reporting pseudotumor cerebri (PTC).

If patients are suffering from pseudotumor cerebri, they could face potential blindness and permanent optic nerve damage. This could result in double-vision or blindness. If women who were recently prescribed Yaz or any other birth control product are suffering from symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, frequent and severe headaches, blurred vision, or seeing light flashes, they should consult their doctors immediately.

Additionally, women who have suffered PTC symptoms state that the headaches become more severe during exercise and other physical activities, because of the elevated pressure in the skull.

Physicians will often diagnosis this condition through an MRI, CT Scan, spinal tap, or eye exam. There are many treatment options available, but the risk of potential blindness still exists if diagnosed at a latent stage.