How does gender affect blood pressure?

• A. Females have higher blood pressure than males until menopause.
• B. Females have lower blood pressure than males until menopause, after which it is higher.
• C. Gender has no effect on blood pressure.
• D. Males have lower blood pressure after menopause.

Answer: (B)

Gender differences in blood pressure come from how hormones and aging affect the cardiovascular system. In premenopausal women, estrogen helps keep blood vessels more flexible and supports better vascular function, which tends to keep blood pressure lower than in men of the same age. After menopause, estrogen declines, and arteries often become stiffer while sodium handling and sympathetic drive can increase, leading to higher blood pressure. So, the typical pattern is lower BP in women before menopause and higher BP after menopause, especially as they get older. Remember that individual factors like weight, activity, diet, and genetics can influence this trend, but the overall trajectory explains why that statement fits best.