IVF / BC and Migraines with Factor V Lieden

I am 41 years old and since the birth of my 20 month old son (via IVF) I have had Migraines starting at first a couple of times a quarter to once a month to now once or twice a week. I am about to do another cycle of IVF to try for a sibling for my son before it is too late and was put on birth control pills (instead of Lupron which is what I took before for IVF). I took the pill for several days starting the 2nd day of my period and then stopped becuase they changed my IVF schedule. 3  days later my bleeding was so severe and I had such a severe migraine I ended up in the emergency room. They checked my blood work and everything looked normal and they also gave me a cat scan. The IVF dr gave me 4 vivelle (Estragen) patches to wear to stop the bleeding. I have a blood disorder called Factor Five Lieden (hetrozygous)  and because of this I am also taking daily shots of .40 ml Lovenox. They re-scheduled my IVF and put me back on the BC and blood thinner. I have been back on it for 14 days and have felt sick to my stomach, tired and have suffered at least 2 severe migraines. I have been told to continue with the BC until July 22nd at which time they will put me on stumulating drugs (follistim) to start the IVF but I am worried about the migraines and how I have been feeling. Is all this safe? I do not have any aura with my migraines - just terrible dull pain on one side that usually moves across to the other and then severe nausea (never thrown up though!) and it doesn't seem as though I am sensitive to light or noise much.

[John Kim, M.D.]

Migraine headaches and Factor V Leiden is a relative contraindication to taking the pill.
If you are concerned, there are IVF protocols that do not use the birth control pill and start with you natural cycle.  I would discuss this with your IVF doctor, if you are concerned.  Indeed if you had neurological symptoms like aura, numbness or weakness, that is an absolute contraindication to using birth control pills.
Since you have started IVF and now probably have stopped the pills and on Follistim and on Lovenox, while the migraines are a nuisance, it would not likely be dangerous for you and you are at low risk of any complications, as probably your IVF doctor as already told you.