A large new study found that women who go through menopause earlier than usual are more likely to develop high blood pressure later in life. The risk was strongest for women who experienced menopause before age 40, and it was highest among those who went through it between ages 25 and 35.
The research was published July 29 in the journal Menopause, according to a report by Healthline. Researchers used data from the UK Biobank, a large health database that tracks medical histories of hundreds of thousands of volunteers across the United Kingdom. The study focused on postmenopausal women ages 40 and older who had no prior diagnosis of high blood pressure. Participants enrolled between 2006 and 2010 and were followed for more than a decade.
Researchers collected information on lifestyle habits including smoking, alcohol intake, and physical activity, along with medical history and lab test results. Women were sorted into three groups: normal onset menopause after age 45, early menopause between ages 40 and 45, and premature menopause before age 40. The study also separated natural menopause from surgical menopause, which involves removal of both ovaries.
Over the follow-up period, a clear pattern emerged. Women who went through menopause at younger ages were more likely to develop high blood pressure than those who experienced it later. The association was especially significant for those with premature menopause before age 40.
Women who had surgical menopause initially appeared to have higher rates of high blood pressure. But that connection disappeared after researchers accounted for other health and lifestyle factors. That finding suggests the early loss of ovarian function caused by surgery alone may not independently raise the risk of developing high blood pressure.
Experts say the link between early menopause and cardiovascular risk has to do with estrogen, which plays several important roles in the cardiovascular system. When estrogen levels drop earlier than expected, those protective effects are lost sooner.
Hormone replacement therapy may help counteract some of those risks. Doctors also point to other factors that can help manage cardiovascular health, including sleep, exercise, diet, taking prescribed medications, and monitoring blood pressure regularly. The researchers said recognizing age at menopause onset as a cardiovascular risk factor could help women and their healthcare providers take earlier and more targeted steps to protect heart health.
