Arterial stiffness in women from reproductive years to menopause

A new study from the University of Jyväskylä Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Finland looked at arterial stiffness in women over a wide age range. The study found that age was a factor in arterial stiffness and that hormones, menstrual cycle phase, the contraceptive pill and menopause were also all important factors.

Increased stiffness in the arteries is a factor for cardiovascular disease and female sex hormones regulate the elasticity of the vascular wall, this may be an important reason why young women have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease than their male peers.

The study involved women aged 19-58, the older the women were the stiffer their arteries were. Age was found to be a stronger determinant of stiffness than hormone levels were. Interestingly among menopausal women, post-menopausal women on hormone therapy had the stiffest arteries. Among younger women taking the combined oral contraceptive pill it was found that their arteries were more elastic during the time of their cycle that they weren’t bleeding.