Blood pressure in women taking oral contraceptives

Br Med J. 1974 Mar 23;1(5907):533-5. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5907.533.

Abstract

A controlled prospective survey of women taking oestrogen-progestogen oral contraceptives showed increases in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 14.2 mm Hg and 8.5 mm Hg respectively after four years. The largest increases in individual cases were 36 mm Hg systolic and 20 mm Hg diastolic. Blood pressure returned to pretreatment levels within three months after oral contraceptives had been stopped. These changes in blood pressure were unrelated to the progestogenic potencies of the preparations being taken.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects*
  • Body Weight
  • Contraceptive Devices
  • Contraceptives, Oral / pharmacology*
  • Ethinyl Estradiol / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intrauterine Devices
  • Lynestrenol / pharmacology
  • Megestrol / pharmacology
  • Mestranol / pharmacology
  • Norethindrone / pharmacology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Contraceptives, Oral
  • Ethinyl Estradiol
  • Mestranol
  • Megestrol
  • Lynestrenol
  • Norethindrone