Many women around the world have chosen to take an oral contraceptive pills, not just as a way to avoid getting pregnant, but also to help moderate periods and even for some to help address other health problems like acne or endometriosis. Whilst they have been proven safe and effective for the large majority of people there has been concerns about a high blood pressure birth control pills connection.
The most common types of prescribed birth control pills available today are ones containing a synthetic mixture of the hormone estrogen and progesterone. Whilst there is another type of birth control pill more commonly known as the mini pill and this just contains progesterone.
These particular hormones are key to the process of providing contraceptive cover but there are some risks that need to be thought about when taking any type of birth control pill.
Birth control pills makes the body think that it is already pregnant by suppressing the natural hormones that would normally stimulate ovaries to release an egg. Oral contraceptives also suppress the development of the uterus lining, and thickens the mucus in the cervix.
Many women will have noticed that they will have their blood pressure taken before they are given a new prescription for the oral contraceptive pill, so if they are safe why would there be a need to do this?
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The main link to the risk of elevated high blood pressure from contraceptive pills is progestin, this synthetic hormone basically mimics the function of progesterone, which is produced naturally by the body. If an increase in blood pressure does occur it can range from mild to potentially serious elevations, which may sometimes mean that the use of contraceptive pills is discontinued, or switched to another pill composition.
There are some factors that tend to increase the risk of having elevated blood pressure with the use of contraceptive pills, which include:
* If the woman has a history of heart or blood vessel problems
* If there is a family history of hypertension, especially in female family members
* If during previous pregnancies high blood pressure was present.
Women taking birth control pills should have their blood pressure measured regularly, and if you already have high blood pressure make sure that you agree the best contraceptive approach with your doctor before commencing. There are alternative methods of contraception that have no impact on blood pressure.
If the contraceptive pills are effecting blood pressure and causing it to rise, then the doctor normally advises one of a few things: to continue taking the contraceptive while they increase the number of times blood pressure is monitored, try a different contraceptive pill or try a different birth control method altogether.
Although a few women may find that they do suffer with problems relating to their blood pressure whilst taking any form of contraceptive pill. The vast majority of women do not have any symptoms. Unfortunately, until such time as proper studies are carried out we really can not say the proportion of women who are effected and the how the high blood pressure birth control pills link can best be managed.