Oral contraception as a risk factor for preeclampsia
Bracken, M.B.; Srisuphan, W.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 142(2): 191-196
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9378 PMID: 7055184 DOI: 10.1016/s0002-9378(16)32335-3Document Number: 386921
Since the role of oral contraceptives as a risk factor for hypertension is now quite well established, we investigated the possible relationship between recent use or oral contraception around conception and the development of hypertension and preeclampsia later in the pregnancy. Subjects were randomly selected women being delivered during a 24 month period at a major medical center who had used oral contraceptives in the 12 months before conception. The overall incidence of preeclampsia was 4.69%. Women who discontinued oral contraceptives as recently as 2 months before conception or who inadvertently used them in early pregnancy (n = 99) did not differ significantly on incidence of preeclampsia (odds ratio (o) = 0.55, 95% CL = 0.15, 2.00) or hypertension at delivery (o = 1.01, 95% CL = 0.46, 2.20) than women last exposed 3 to 12 months before conception (n = 242). Potentially confounding maternal factors were examined and controlled.