The Effects of Mechanical and Steroid Contraceptive Methods on Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Women

Abstract

78 women whose diastolic blood pressure exceeded 90 mmHg were selected for the study. 19 of the group chose the IUD as a contraceptive measure (the control group) 33 chose the combination oral contraceptive Ovulen (1 mg ethynodiol diacetate/.1 mg mestranol 12 chose the progestogen minipill norgestrel .75 mg and 14 chose the progestogen minipill ethynodiol diacetate .25 mg. The IUD group consistently gained weight during the year of monitoring though the other groups showed varied increases. Increased blood pressure is often recognized in association with oral contraceptive use and estrogen is often regarded as a cause of hypertension. In this study women using the combination oral contraceptive and progestogen minipills evidenced a decrease in blood pressure. This difference was significant at p<.01 for all 3 groups at the 6-month checkup and for norgestrel was still significant at 12 months. It is suggested that hypertension is not an absolute contraindication to the use of steroid contraceptives and that the progrestogen contraceptive may be an ideal fertility control method.