Can birth control cause syncope?

For several months my daughter was having symptoms of either syncope or "atypical" migraines.  She has had every test imaginable including viewing the heart for a hole.  All test results have been negative.  She is an RN who was working nights and the doctor felt sleep deprivation could be a cause and he took her off bc pills until all test results were in.  During the time she was off bc she did not have an episode. She began a 3-11 shift that was a much better sleeping schedule.  She went back on bc after all test resulst were in and she had an episode this week, where she was "out" for over an hour.  She was found at the bottom of a short stair case; she had no memory of the event.  She said that she felt "odd" all day, but did not complain of pain.  She went to the ER where, five hours later, it was determined to be syncope.  I am worried that these episodes could occur while driving or working.  How can the cause of these episodes be determined.

[cindy707]

Hi i read your post....i too would be so worried if this was one of my kids......i think you have probably found the trigger point of the fainting spells....if she's off no issues....on issues.  The biggest risk with them is obviously blood clots for all women who take them and many many times a doc can order a very light dose instead of a full dose to readjust the meds.  I would not expect her to have any memory of the fainting because most times you wouldn't.  It sounds like she needs a complete and i mean a complete work up done and would probably tell her to consider an MRI or CAT scan to rule out any issues with clots. It is not normal for people to faint and generally the reason that it does happen is lack of 02 into the brain so if she is throwing clots because of the B/C pills i would warn her off because this is obviously worrisome.  Headaches are also a symtom of the same thing.  Sleep deprivation as far as i know does not cause humans to faint.....thats kind of crazy to me.....Feeling "odd" is also a description that many humans give right before a seizure hits and that is the exact description that is used and unless someone is around her when she goes down she would not know unless when she comes fully awake she feels like she is super relaxed and feels ultra calm and almost giddy because she's blown all of the sugar out of her body when she seized.  I don't know mom.....i can only toss out those two scenarios to you...she is a nurse and we tend to be the worst patients of all...anyone that works in the med. field in most cases take a we'll see attitude because most carry the TMI thing around or have too much information.  Good luck to you both just wanted to toss out a couple of thoughts to you........................

[Mom2four85]

did she have a tilt table test or does she have severe fluctuations in her bp?

[Yvette BG]

Back in the late 1980s, my doctors gave me the go-ahead to go on birth control pills despite some earlier conflicting cardiac diagnoses. I was on them about 2 months when I had an episode. While standing, I lost vision, became very dizzy, nauseated, and sweaty, and almost fainted. Went to ER; they basically concluded that I may have had a TIA related to the BC and referred me to a cardiologist. The new cardiologist recommended I get off of BC pills and never go back on them. Followed his advice and never had another episode like that again.

I agree that your daughter needs a full work-up.