New PostEarly Menopause and Mortality Risk: The Role of HRT

Women who experience menopause before the age of 40 face significantly higher risks of dying young from cancer, heart disease, and other causes. According to a Finnish study, these women are four times more likely to die young from cancer and twice as likely to die from heart disease or other causes. However, the research also suggests that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can mitigate these risks.

Key Findings from the Study

The study, presented at the 26th European Congress of Endocrinology in Stockholm, highlights the health risks associated with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Lead researcher Hilla Haapakoski, a PhD student at the University of Oulu, emphasizes that the health risks of women with POI are often underrecognized and the use of HRT is frequently neglected.

The study analyzed data from 5,817 Finnish women diagnosed with spontaneous or surgical POI between 1988 and 2017 and compared them to 22,859 women without the condition. It found that women who used HRT for over six months reduced their risk of death from all causes and cancer by about half.

The Importance of Hormone Replacement Therapy

HRT is the primary treatment for POI, replenishing estrogen and other hormones no longer produced by the ovaries. Despite its benefits, adherence to HRT recommendations remains low. Increasing awareness among healthcare professionals and affected women could improve health outcomes for those experiencing premature menopause.

Understanding Premature Menopause

Menopause occurs when a woman's ovaries stop releasing eggs and her body produces less estrogen and progesterone, typically after 12 consecutive months without a period. While most women naturally enter menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, about 1% experience premature menopause or POI before age 40. Causes of premature menopause can include genetic disorders, autoimmune diseases, chemotherapy, or surgeries like ovary removal, though often the cause remains unknown.

Health Risks of Premature Menopause

The Finnish research team meticulously calculated the cancer and heart disease risks, noting that women who underwent surgical POI did not face an increased mortality risk. The study’s extensive sample size and 30-year period make it a significant contribution to understanding the link between early menopause and mortality risk.

Future Research Directions

The research team plans to delve deeper into whether women with POI are more prone to cancer, heart disease, or other illnesses, and to understand the potential long-term effects of HRT on these conditions. This could further illuminate the importance of HRT and improve the health outcomes for women with premature menopause.