Contraception Knowledge Centre
Case Study
Focal Migraine
Resource Text
The International Headache Society (IHS) describes focal migraine as a recurrent disorder manifesting in attacks of reversible focal neurological symptoms that usually develop gradually and last for less than one hour. The aura is typically at least one of the following:
- visual symptoms, which may include positive features (flickering lights, spots or lines) and/or negative features (loss of vision)
- sensory symptoms, which may include positive features (pins and needles) and/or negative features (numbness)
- speech disturbance.
Patients with motor weakness are classified separately but for our purposes the diagnosis would still count as a focal migraine, which would contra-indicate the COC pill.
Figure 1: Summary of the symptoms of migraine auras
Migraine Auras
-
Visual Symptoms
Positive features (flickering lights, spots or lines)
negative features (loss of vision) -
Sensory Symptoms
Positive features (pins and needles)
negative features (numbness) -
Speech disturbances
Further Reading
| Question | Answer | Feedback |
|---|---|---|
| It is important to always ask about changes to a patient’s family and medical history at a routine pill check | True False |
Please select an answer. The correct answer is - True [your answer:? ] It is important to always ask. As in this case a patient’s medical suitability for a method might have changed since their last check up so this information should be obtained and documented at each pill check. |
| The neurological symptoms of focal migraine are always fully reversible. | True False |
Please select an answer. The correct answer is - True [your answer:? ] Focal migraine involves attacks of reversible focal neurological symptoms that usually develop gradually and last for less than one hour. |
| A unilateral throbbing headache associated with seeing flashing lights for five minutes is a focal migraine. | True False |
Please select an answer. The correct answer is - True [your answer:? ] Focal migraine is typically a unilateral throbbing headache associated with visual symptoms (including flashing lights), sensory symptoms, speech disturbance and/or motor weakness. |
| Reset | ||