Doctors specializing in vascular health say there appears to a connection that has to do with blood clotting, plus other apparent risks.
New Research: If You Notice This During Your Period, It May Be Indicative of Stroke Risk
Published on Nov. 19, 2024
The growing cultural conversation about menopause and general women’s health means more research dollars are being allocated to this end. As one example, a duo of doctors have found that certain patterns within the menstrual cycle can also offer clues about cardiovascular-related health.
A November 7, 2024 study was published in the American Heart Association journal Stroke, conducted by Alison Seitz, MD, and Ami P. Raval, PhD, MSPH—two doctoral researchers affiliated with the University of Miami who specialize in vascular (vein) health. After observing that in recent years, stroke incidence has grown more common among younger women, the doctors aimed to investigate whether trends related to the menstrual cycle can help anticipate when a woman is at greater stroke risk.
The researchers found that having “abnormal” periods could increase stroke risk in pre-menopausal women. They defined abnormal as “endometrial and structural uterine abnormalities [which] are associated with anemia and may be associated with hypercoagulability, possibly increasing stroke risk.” They add: “Patient factors that influence both menstruation and stroke risk include coagulopathies, polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, migraine, and other systemic disorders, in addition to menopause.” (Note: “Coagulability” describes blood’s ability to clot. The explanation in this study may be taken to mean that both excessive bleeding and a tendency toward blood clotting are associated with higher stroke risk.)
They add that certain environmental factors also influence both menstruation and stroke risk. These include:
- Taking hormonal contraceptives
- Consuming nicotine
- Taking estrogen-mimicking medications
- Having had surgery to remove the ovaries or uterus
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada adds that the age at which you experienced your first period could also raise or lower your lifetime stroke risk, as well as your risk of other heart conditions. “A woman’s risk of developing heart conditions and stroke increases if they get their period early, before the age of 12, or late, after age 14,” they write.
Other studies have explored the relationship between abnormally painful period cramps—a condition is known as dysmenorrhea—and stroke. “We found that the stroke risk in dysmenorrheal patients increased with age, and that hypertension was nine-fold more prevalent in the stroke cases than in the controls,” wrote a 2019 study in the journal PLoS One. “Hypertension is the most important comorbidity associated with all types of stroke. Therefore, more attention for stroke prevention must be paid to women with dysmenorrhea, particularly when combined with comorbidities.”
If you are unsure of whether your periods are normal or abnormal, the Mayo Clinic recommends tracking your start date every month for several months in a row. If you’re worried about your periods, you can also track:
- Your period’s end date
- Flow
- Bleeding changes including bleeding between periods
- Pain levels
- Other changes in symptoms
Note: For privacy and personal safety, it’s increasingly advised not to track these events via a smartphone app or electronic device. A classic daily journal might be a preferred approach.
If you do notice irregularities, it’s important to track your cycle and talk to your doctor or gynecologist about your symptoms. They can help you rule out serious underlying causes, and help assess whether or not your abnormal period symptoms might otherwise affect your health.
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