Key result
Oral contraceptives linked to ~9 mmHg higher systolic BP during lower hormone phases versus natural menstruation.
Why the study?
It was unclear whether blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and indices of pressure waveforms differ between young oral contraceptive pill users and naturally menstruating women across lower and higher hormone phases.
Does oral contraceptive pill use alter blood pressure and arterial stiffness across different hormone phases compared to naturally menstruating women?
Observational (n=22)
No
Does oral contraceptive pill use alter blood pressure and arterial stiffness across different hormone phases compared to naturally menstruating women?
Effect estimate: Hedges's g 1.06
Absolute Event Rate: 119.3% vs 110.2%
p-value: p=0.019
Lower levels of exogenous hormones during the placebo phase of oral contraceptive pills moderately increase central and peripheral blood pressures compared to naturally menstruating women, though arterial stiffness is similarly influenced by both exogenous and endogenous hormones.
May warrant BP monitoring during OCP placebo phases; leaves open causality and stiffness effects.
New Findings What is the central question of this study? Are there differences in blood pressure, arterial stiffness and indices of pressure waveforms between young oral contraceptive pill-using and naturally menstruating women during lower and higher hormone phases of their cycles? What is the main finding and its importance? Blood pressure, arterial stiffness and indices of pressure waveforms are influenced similarly by exogenous and endogenous hormones. However, lower levels of exogenous hormones moderately increase blood pressure among oral contraceptive pill-using women. Elevations in blood pressure (BP) are understood as having a bidirectional relationship with stiffening of central and peripheral arteries. Arterial stiffness is mitigated by oestrogen, which aides in arterial vasorelaxation. To evaluate whether BP, stiffness, and pressure waveforms were different between young healthy naturally menstruating (non-OCP) and oral contraceptive pill (OCP)-using women, we measured brachial and aortic BPs, carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity, carotid β-stiffness, elastic modulus, central augmentation index and augmentation index normalized to a heart rate of 75 bpm, and forward and backward pressure waveforms in 22 women (22 (1) years, OCP: n = 12). To assess phasic differences, women were studied during the early follicular (≤5 days of menstruation onset) and early luteal (4 (2) days post-ovulation) phases of non-OCP and compared to the placebo pill (≤5 days of onset) and active pill (≤5 days of highest-dose active pill) phases of OCP. During the lower hormone phases, OCP users had significantly higher brachial systolic blood pressure (SBP) (119.3 (8.3) vs. 110.2 (8.3) mmHg, P = 0.02) and aortic SBP (104.10 (7.44) vs. 96.80 (6.39) mmHg, P = 0.03) as compared to non-OCP users; however, during the higher hormone phases, there were no differences in measures of brachial or aortic BP, arterial stiffness, or indices of BP waveforms between OCP and non-OCP users (P ≥ 0.05). In conclusion, exogenous and endogenous hormones have similar influences on BP and arterial stiffness; however, lower levels of exogenous hormones augment both central and peripheral BPs.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Eagan et al. (2022) conducted an observational in Healthy premenopausal women (n=22). Oral contraceptive pill (OCP) vs. Naturally menstruating (non-OCP) was evaluated on Brachial systolic blood pressure during lower hormone phase (Hedges's g 1.06, p=0.019). During the lower hormone phases, oral contraceptive pill users had significantly higher brachial systolic blood pressure (119.3 vs 110.2 mmHg) compared to naturally menstruating women.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: