Effect of oral hormonal contraceptive pill use on the hemodynamic response to the cold pressor test
Dain W. Jacob, Aaron M. Voshage, Jennifer L. Harper, Jacqueline K. Limberg
Abstract
Acute increases in sympathetic nervous system activity often elicit peripheral vasoconstriction and increases in blood pressure (BP). Given sympathetic support of BP is modulated by ovarian sex hormones (e.g., estradiol), we sought to examine the effect of menstrual cycle and oral hormonal contraceptive pill (OC) phase on the hemodynamic response to acute increases in sympathetic nervous system activity via the cold pressor test. We show OC participants exhibit paradoxical vasodilation during acute sympathetic activation compared with participants with natural menstrual cycles; notably, group differences were unaffected by menstrual/pill phase.
Topics & Concepts
Cold pressor testMedicineSympathetic nervous systemVasodilationPillHormoneHemodynamicsInternal medicineMenstrual cycleBlood pressureVasoconstrictionEndocrinologyHaemodynamic responseMenstruationAutonomic nervous systemHeart ratePharmacologyHeart Rate Variability and Autonomic ControlBlood Pressure and Hypertension StudiesCardiovascular Syncope and Autonomic Disorders