Effect of natural oestrogens on blood pressure and weight in postmenopausal women.

An investigation of the effect of conjugated oestorgens (USP) on the blood pressure and weight gain of postmenopausal women was undertaken. Fifty-one unselected women were treated for one year with cyclically administered conjugated oestrogen. Both the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures of those in the group increased, but only the diastolic was significantly elevated. Individual evaluation revealed that this was largely owing to an idiosyncrasy among certain women. Age is probably a predisposing factor, for hypertension occurred more frequently among the older women. The significance of the change in blood pressure is commented upon, and the recommendation that postmenopausal women on oestrogen replacement therapy should have their blood pressure measured every 6 months is made. Weight gain is not affected by long-term treatment with conjugated oestrogens.