High blood pressure has long been known to be linked to heart disease and stroke, but why does it matter in our fertility patients, who are overall young & healthy? Doesn’t high blood pressure matter later in life? Why is your fertility clinic checking blood pressure? Many of our patients have noticed that we make a significant effort to measure blood pressure at each visit. So, what’s the deal? Is blood pressure also important for your fertility?
In a recent study, researchers found that women who had higher blood pressure had an 18% higher risk of suffering a pregnancy loss, or miscarriage, than patients with normal blood pressure. Although this study shows an association between elevated blood pressure and pregnancy, it does not prove that hypertension actually causes pregnancy loss. It does, however, show that the best way to have a healthy uncomplicated pregnancy is to start by being the healthiest you can be before conception.
What you can do:
- Be a pro-active patient. Learn about your baseline normal blood pressure and talk to your doctor if you notice that your blood pressure is elevated
Enhancing Fertility 