Study of blood pressure in women taking oral contraceptives.

Blood pressure was recorded in 106 females taking oral contraceptives for a variable period and compared with 106 age matched controls using other methods of contraception. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher in women taking oral contraceptives. A significant correlation of ponderal index with systolic and diastolic blood pressures was present in each group. It is suggested that these drugs should be used with particular care in females with higher parity, history of toxaemia of pregnancy, preexisting hypertension and family history of hypertension (JPMA 30:157, 1980).