Heart HealthIrregular Periods Tied to 62% Higher Heart Disease Risk Over 26 Years
A large prospective study of over 52,000 premenopausal women followed for up to 26 years found that functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) — absent or irregular periods linked to low body weight or high exercise, without PCOS — was associated with a 62% higher risk of cardiovascular disease and nearly double the risk of coronary heart disease. FHA was also linked to an 86% higher risk of type 2 diabetes. Importantly, this elevated risk was independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Women with non-FHA menstrual irregularity showed a different risk profile, with elevated cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes, but no significant cardiovascular disease signal. The findings suggest menstrual history is a meaningful early biomarker of long-term cardiometabolic risk and warrants clinical attention.
