A positive news has emerged regarding the use of oral contraceptives (birth control pills) for women. The study, conducted by researchers at IIT Madras and the University of Minnesota in the US, concluded that the use of oral contraceptives does not increase blood pressure during large muscular activity (such as cycling or running).
The study involved women aged 20-25 years and found that neither oral contraceptives nor hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle had any effect on their exercise blood pressure.
Oral contraceptives and hormonal effects
Along with contraception, they are also used to reduce the risk of acne, menstrual pain, and ovarian cysts. However, in some cases their use at rest may increase blood pressure. However, its effect during intense exercise was not yet clear.
Study found that fluctuations in the hormone estradiol or oral contraceptives during the menstrual cycle had no significant effect on women’s blood pressure. The findings also showed that the exercise pressor reflex (which controls blood flow from the heart to the muscles) was not affected in women.
future direction
Dr. Ninitha A.J. of IIT Madras. This research will help women better understand blood pressure during exercise. Also, Dr. Manda Keller Ross of the University of Minnesota said the next step will be to understand whether this EPR increases cardiovascular risk in women after menopause. The study was published in the prestigious American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology.
