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News
Your period might be more than a monthly inconvenience — it could be a vital sign. Experts at the ADCES annual meeting say cardiometabolic risk screening should be woven into every stage of a woman's reproductive life, from menarche to menopause. Early periods, early menopause, and pregnancy complications are all red flags worth tracking for long-term heart and metabolic health.
Think of the menstrual cycle as a "fifth vital sign." That's the message from experts at the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES) annual meeting, who urged clinicians to treat every reproductive life stage — from a girl's first period to post-menopause — as an opportunity to screen for and prevent cardiometabolic disease. Estrogen plays a central protective role, meaning risk rises during perimenopause and spikes after menopause.
Timing matters, too. Early menarche (before age 9.5) is linked to obesity, high blood pressure, and metabolic disease, while early menopause (ages 40–45) and premature ovarian failure significantly elevate cardiometabolic risk. Pregnancy is another critical window — gestational diabetes, eating disorders, and conditions like endometriosis all deserve attention, along with a post-delivery care plan that too often falls through the cracks.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: Women's cardiovascular risk is often underestimated or detected too late. A lifespan-based approach gives clinicians a structured, proactive framework to catch risk early — and act on it.
