[Hypertension due to hormonal contraceptives and estrogens (author's transl)]

In over 95% of women who have for some time taken estrogen preparations or oral contraceptives containing estrogens there is no significant rise in blood pressure. Probably no more than 1 to 2% of young women treated develop clinically significant hypertension. In very rare instances, the preparations may induce potentially fatal malignant hypertension. Old age, a family history of hypertension and toxemia during earlier pregnancies seem to be predisposing factors for estrogen hypertension. Guide lines are given for the supervision of blood pressure in daily medical practice and circulatory contraindications to the prescription of these preparations are suggested.