BLOOD-PRESSURE CHANGES AND HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES

The effects of low-estrogen and progestogen-only contraceptives on blo od pressure changes were investigated on 238 women taking 35 mu g EE O C, 267 using Norplant(R) implants and 259 adopting IUD. The mean incre ases in diastolic pressure at 12, 24, 36 and 48 weeks among pill users were significantly (p<O.05) higher than those among lUD users by 1.8, 2.1, 2.3 and 1.9 mm Hg, respectively; the increases in systolic press ure were higher but not significant (p>0.05) by 1.3, 1.7, 1.5 and 1.3 mm Hg. Neither systolic nor diastolic blood pressure was affected by u se of Norplant implants. Regression analysis, including interaction te rms, showed that women's age, obesity and family history of hypertensi on were associated with an increase of blood pressure during follow-up and were independent of contraceptive use and vice versa. After adjus tment of some potential confounding variables, pill users showed a 1.0 mm Hg rise in diastolic pressure, which is statistically significant but clinically unimportant.