Natural progesterone and antihypertensive action.

Abstract

In a placebo controlled, double blind crossover study natural progesterone was given by mouth, in increasing doses, to six men and four postmenopausal women with mild to moderate hypertension who were not receiving any other antihypertensive drugs. When compared with values recorded before treatment and during administration of placebo progesterone caused a significant reduction in blood pressure, suggesting that progesterone has an antihypertensive action rather than a hypertensive one as has been previously thought.This possible protective effect of progesterone should be investigated further.

Dose response effect of cyclical medroxyprogesterone on blood pressure in postmenopausal women

“…[40][41][42]44 In contrast to the vasoconstrictor effects observed with the 'androgenic' progestogens, the 'non-androgenic' progestogens including progesterone and medroxyprogesterone (which was used in the current study) have been shown to have a net vasodilator effect. 38,41,44 The observations in the present study examining the dose-response of cyclical MPA in the presence of a fixed replacement dose of oestrogen are consistent with MPA having either no net effect on vascular tone or a small net vasodilator effect. The mechanisms of the effect of the different progestogens on the vasculature remain unclear and warrant further investigation.…”

“…31,[36][37][38] Contraceptive preparations tend to differ from 'postmenopausal replacement' regimens in that they consist of combinations of the 'potent' semisynthetic oestrogens ethinyloestradiol or mestranol, often with the relatively androgenic C19 progestogens, both administered in doses in excess of those used in HRT. 60 The relatively higher doses and potency of the preparations used in oral contraceptive formulations may therefore influence the effects on the vasculature and blood pressure.…”

“…From these studies there is little evidence to suggest that contraceptive doses of progestogens given alone to normotensive premenopausal women are associated with a pressor effect on blood pressure. 31,[36][37][38] However, results of some studies have suggested that, while progestogen administered alone does not have a demonstrable pressor effect, when administered in combination with oestrogen in combined contraceptive formulations the progestogen may have a synergistic effect, thereby enhancing the pressor effect of the oestrogen. 37,39 From the currently available data a number of questions remain unanswered.…”

A randomised placebo controlled trial of the effects of tibolone on blood pressure and lipids in hypertensive women

“…24 In vivo administration of oestrogen or natural progesterone can bring about an acute drop in blood pressure. 5,6 In hypertensive women a number of small studies have documented an antihypertensive effect. Transdermal oestradiol can reduce daytime systolic pressure, 7 achieve an absolute reduction in overall pressures 8 and restore a normal 24-h ambulatory blood pressure profile.…”

“…4 Little information is available regarding the long-term effects of HRT in hypertensive women, but short duration studies in hypertensive women have demonstrated either a neutral or even modest hypotensive effect. [5][6][7][8][9][10] Cyclical HRT preparations are unacceptable to most women suffering from coronary disease or hypertension. Tibolone is a novel steroid compound, which controls menopausal symptoms, 11 inhibits postmenopausal bone loss 12 and augments forearm blood flow.…”