Under pressure

For many teenage girls, there is nothing more sobering than an unwanted pregnancy - and the contraceptive pill has been providing security against this eventuality for the past five decades.

But according to new research, the pill, which has long been linked to high blood pressure, could also cause health problems for teenage users later in life. Researchers from the University of Western Australia discovered that of the teenagers questioned in their study, those who were on the pill had a 3 mm Hg higher blood pressure (BP) rating than those who were not. And as most had only been on the pill for a short time, this raised concerns about the long-term effects of the drug.

Dr Shirley McQuade of the Dublin Well Woman Centre says all young women requesting the contraceptive pill in Ireland have their blood pressure (BP) checked at their initial visit and are monitored regularly so any potential problems are detected early.