The study, conducted by researchers from IIT Madras and University of Minnesota, US, concluded that the use of oral contraceptives does not increase blood pressure during large muscle activity.

A positive news has come out about the use of oral contraceptives (birth control pills) for women. The study, conducted by researchers from IIT Madras and University of Minnesota, US, concluded that the use of oral contraceptives does not increase blood pressure during large muscle activity (such as cycling or running).

The study involved women in the age group of 20-25 years and found that neither oral contraceptives nor hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycles had any effect on their exercise blood pressure.

Oral contraceptives and hormonal effects are

also used for contraception as well as to reduce the risk of acne, menstrual pain and ovarian cysts. However, their use can increase blood pressure in a relaxed state in some cases. However, its effect during intense exercise was not yet clear.

The study found that fluctuations of the hormone estradiol or oral contraceptives during the menstrual cycle had no significant effect on women's blood pressure. The findings also showed that exercise pressure reflex (which controls blood flow from the heart to 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 that 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.