Women who take oral contraceptives (OCs) have an increased risk of developing new hypertension, which returns to baseline within 1 to 3 months of OC cessation (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, based on cohort studies). Among large populations of women with hypertension from all causes, risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes is increased (SOR: B, based on Framingham data). Women with pre-existing hypertension who take OCs have an increased risk of stroke and myocardial infarction when compared with hypertensive women who do not (SOR: B, based on case-control studies).