Oral contraceptives don't raise blood pressure in women who exercise: Study

Researchers from IIT Madras and the University of Minnesota have found that oral contraceptives do not affect blood pressure responses during exercise in young women.

In Short

• Birth control pills don't influence blood pressure among women who exercise
• It doesn't even cause hormonal fluctuations
• Study to further explore cardiovascular risks during menopause

Researchers from IIT Madras and the University of Minnesota, US, have studied the impact of oral contraceptives on the blood pressure of young women (ages 20-25) during dynamic exercises like running or cycling.

Despite oral contraceptives being linked to increased resting blood pressure, the study found no significant influence on exercise-induced blood pressure responses or hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle.

Exercise can acutely increase blood pressure due to increased sympathetic nerve activity (fight or flight) from skeletal muscle sensory neurons known as Exercise Pressor Reflex (EPR).

The EPR results in an increase in blood flow from the heart to the skeletal muscle to meet the needs of the muscle. The EPR is known to be greater in males compared with premenopausal females and is also known to be exaggerated in people with cardiovascular disease.

The research highlights that neither oral contraceptives nor natural ovarian hormones, such as estrogen, affect the EPR, a mechanism causing temporary blood pressure rises during physical activity.

This finding, published in the reputed peer-reviewed journal American Journal of Physiology, is critical as it suggests oral contraceptives do not exacerbate blood pressure responses during exercise.

Dr. Ninitha A.J. from IIT Madras explained that understanding these effects is essential, especially since oral contraceptives are commonly used by female athletes to manage pregnancy risks and menstrual health.

The findings also pave the way for further exploration into cardiovascular risks during menopause, when hormone levels drop significantly.

The study, supported by India's Science and Engineering Research Board and the US National Institutes of Health,

The researchers now aim to investigate whether EPR contributes to increased cardiovascular risk among menopausal women.