It’s not just a pain in the uterus — reproductive health problems could also break your heart.
A recent study suggests that women dealing with common gynecological issues, like heavy or irregular periods, could be at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease and conditions that affect blood flow to the brain, like stroke.
“We are becoming increasingly aware of how impactful gynecological conditions are on quality of life as they are actively happening, like endometriosis’ impact on pain and fertility,” said Mathew Leonardi, senior author and assistant professor at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada.
“Now, we are getting closer to understanding that having these gynecological conditions might also indicate a higher risk for developing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease later in life.”
To get to the heart of the issue, researchers reviewed 28 studies covering 3.2 million women. Their analysis found that those with at least one gynecological issue faced a 28% higher risk of heart disease or stroke.
More specifically, the risk of ischemic heart disease — a condition where the heart is deprived of oxygen due to reduced blood supply — was 41% higher. The risk of cerebrovascular disease was 33% higher.
Researchers noted that the increased risk was especially pronounced in women with endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
“Another interesting finding was that, in some studies, this increased risk seemed to manifest relatively early in life, suggesting that early intervention or monitoring might make a difference over the long term,” Leonardi told Euronews Health.
“This should further raise the awareness and the relevance of gynecological conditions in society and in our health care system.”
Menstruation typically comes with mild discomfort, irritability, abdominal cramps and fatigue. But for women with additional gynecological problems, that time of the month can be particularly challenging.
Heavy menstrual bleeding is one of the most common issues women report to their doctors, affecting more than 10 million Americans each year. This can lead to anemia, causing symptoms like weakness, dizziness and fatigue.
Menstrual irregularities are also widespread, impacting an estimated 14% to 25% of US women of childbearing age. Cycles that are shorter or longer than the typical 21 to 35 days, or those that are heavier or lighter than usual, are considered irregular.
Meanwhile, endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, affects more than 6.5 million American women. It can cause pelvic pain, heavy or abnormal bleeding and fertility issues.
There’s also PCOS, a hormonal condition that affects an estimated 5 million to 6 million women in the US. Common symptoms include irregular or absent periods, excess body hair, acne, weight gain and infertility.
While the exact connection between gynecological problems and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases is unclear, the researchers believe biological factors — like systemic inflammation and estrogen production — could be at play.
There may also be an overlap between gynecological and cardiovascular risk factors. For instance, metabolic syndrome — a cluster of health problems that increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes — is often present in people with PCOS.
While cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the US for both sexes, it claims more lives among women each year. In fact, nearly half a million women die annually from heart disease — more than from all forms of cancer combined.
Women in the US also suffer about 55,000 more strokes annually than men, and they are more likely to die from them. Stroke is the third leading cause of death for women, killing more than 85,000 each year.
Several factors may be driving these disparities, including differences in anatomy, physiology and hormones. The new research on common gynecological health problems, heart disease and cerebrovascular disease could help further explain the gap between men and women.
The researchers pointed out some limitations in their analysis, noting that more than half of the studies reviewed were scored as having a very high risk of bias. They also didn’t address certain aspects of cardiovascular disease, such as atrial fibrillation — a common heart rhythm disorder.
“Our review is a starting point in exploring the association between common gynecological problems and cardiovascular health, but more high-quality studies are needed to investigate this association further,” said lead author Giorgia Colombo, a medical resident at the UK’s West Middlesex University Hospital, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
