The Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill: Could the pill affect my blood pressure?

Will the birth pill increase my blood pressure?

For the majority of women, the blood pressure increases on the combined oral contraceptive pill by an average of 1mm Hg (a tiny amount). An increase of 5-10mm Hg may be of clinical importance but 1mm really does not matter. This is an example of a statistical (mathematical) proven increase that has no consequence from the medical point of view.

The international recommendation is that the combined oral contraceptive pill should not be started or continued if your blood pressure is 160/100 or higher. High blood pressure can be a factor in heart disease and strokes and as a few women (about 1%) may develop clinically significant raised blood pressure, checks should be carried out periodically. Your blood pressure should be measured before you start the combined oral contraceptive pill and three months later. If your blood pressure is normal it should be reviewed at six months intervals and after two years it can be reviewed annually.

Related Medical Abstracts - Click on the paper title:-

Clinical inquiries. What is the risk of adverse outcomes in a woman who develops mild hypertension from OCs? (2006-01)
Hypertension, genotype and oral contraceptives. (2002-01)

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This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.

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Could a combined oral contraceptive pill increase my blood pressure?