A prospective study of 119 black women

Blood pressure and body weight were carefully measured in 119 young black women before and after 6 to 24 months of contraceptive therapy with oral progestational agents (minipills). Results are compared with 673 women followed during continued use of nonhormonal contraceptive methods. Minipill therapy (0.35 mg of norethisterone) was associated with no significant (p > 0.05) increase in either systolic or diastolic blood pressure means. Minipill users did not develop diastolic blood pressures of 90 mm Hg or more during the study period. Substantial weight gain occurred as a side effect. (AM. J. OBSTET. GYNECOL. 136:344, 1980.) ‘I‘rr f’ 1‘F.i~ 21 0 K .A I contraceptive generally refers to pills containing a combination of estrogen and progescational compounds. These are also known as combination-tvpe 01 al (ontraceptives. Some formulations of ~onibi!latir)rl-i~l~~ oral contraceptives contain relatively low estrogen doses (‘20 to 33 pg) and arc sometimes known as low-dose estrogen oral contraceptives. Hypertension is generally considered ;I side effect of cornbinati~~ri-t~~~~ oral contraceptives.’ A second tlpc of oral contraceptive contains onl) progestogens with no estrogen component. ‘These are known as “minipills.” Examples include norethisterone (0.35 mg) arid norgestrel (0.075 mg). A paucity of inthrxnation exists concerning blood pressure change following the use of oral progestational agents. This prospective study analyzes weight and blood pressure before and ti to 23 months after initiation of oral progestational therapy in I I9 initiallv normotensive black women, a population predefined as highly susceptible to hypertension.