EFFECT OF ORAL-CONTRACEPTIVES ON BLOOD-PRESSURE - A CONTROLLED TRIAL

The possible hypertensive effect of oral contraceptives is a controversial issue. We studied 371 women, admitted to the family planning program of a state funded outpatient clinic, that were followed during 12 months. These women were divided in four groups: Group 1 was constituted by 98 women that used intrauterine devices. Group 2 by 98 women taking 30 mu g of estrogen and 300 mu g of progestogen. Group 3 by 83 women taking 35 mu g of estrogen and 500 mu g of progestogen and Group 4 by 92 puerperal women taking 30 mu g of levonorgestrel, that after six months started to use an intrauterine device (n = 35) or the contraceptives of group 2 (n = 38) or group 3 (n = 19). Age, initial blood pressure and weight were similar in the four groups. There was no significant change in blood pressure after 6 or 12 months of follow up in any group. It is concluded that contraceptives containing estrogen concentrations up to 35 mu g and progestogen concentrations between 300 and 500 mu g do not induced changes in blood pressure.