Vascular headaches and oral contraceptives.

Two groups of patients with increasing vascular headache unrelieved by antimigrainous medication were selected; 1800 were taking the birth control pill and a further 200 were taking estrogens for `hot flashes'. Each group showed reduction, relief or control of the headache with antimigrainous medication when the pill or estrogen was stopped. A history of vascular headache is therefore a contraindication to the use of these medications.