Influence on blood pressure of oestrogen substitution therapy in the menopause

In a Swedish health centre an analysis was made of the effect on blood pressure of oestrogen substitution therapy in 33 normotensive women in the menopause. Comparisons were made with a control group of 33 normotensive women of the same ages but left without oestrogen therapy. Following three years of therapy with oestrogen alone or in combination with progesterone, there were no significant changes in blood pressure. This was true also when a subgroup consisting of 11 women treated with equinous oestrogens was analysed separately. These results could therefore indicate that chronic treatment with oestrogens in postmenopausal women probably has small effect on the general blood pressure level and that the risk of inducing arterial hypertension must be low.