Use birth control pills that have a lower dose of estrogen to reduce the drop in estrogen during the placebo days. Take NSAIDs and triptans during the placebo days. Take a low dose of estrogen pills or wear an estrogen patch during the placebo days. Use an estrogen-containing skin patch during the placebo days if you're using a birth control patch. Take a progestin-only birth control pill (Micronor, others) as an alternative to oral estrogen-progestin birth control pills, if you're not able to take estrogen-progestin birth control pills due to other conditions.