Will Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to reduce symptoms of menopause increase or decrease my blood pressure?

The effects of hormone replacement therapy on blood pressure are not as clear cut as the effects of oral contraceptive pills. Perhaps because the dosages are lower, the increase in blood pressure is not as consistently observed, and some studies have even documented a decrease in blood pressure. Preliminary evidence suggests synthetic progestin increases sodium retention. But a three-year study of women ages 45-64 using a variety of hormone replacement therapies showed no differences in blood pressure in any of the treatment groups compared to the placebo group. These women started out with normal blood pressure, however, and it is not known how women with high blood pressure would fare over time. More studies are needed.