Two reproductive health conditions common in women, polycystic ovary syndrome and dysmenorrhea, are linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, according to two studies to be presented at the American Heart Association’s scientific sessions in Philadelphia, USA.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women. According to the American Heart Association, nearly 45% of women age 20 and older have some type of cardiovascular disease. Scientists have investigated how common reproductive health conditions in women may affect the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The first study looked at polycystic ovary syndrome, which is characterized by irregular or missed periods and ovarian cysts. It is estimated that this syndrome affects one in ten women reproductive age. They studied nearly 170,000 girls aged 13-17 in the US and found that the risk of high blood pressure was 30% higher in teenage girls who have the condition compared to teenage girls without the condition.

In a second study, the dysmenorrhea, that is, painful menstruation, which is the most common menstrual cycle problem faced by women. More than 55,000 women under the age of 50 were studied and found that as many had been diagnosed with dysmenorrhea were twice as likely to have an increased risk of ischemic heart disease (including angina, heart attack, heart attack complications and chronic or ongoing ischemic heart disease) compared to women without the condition.

“These studies are extremely important because they provide insight into how factors specific to young women can affect future cardiovascular risk.

The earlier we can identify these unique risks, the sooner we can intervene with treatments to reduce those risks and ideally save lives,” says the chair of the American Heart Association’s Committee on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke in Women and underrepresented populations, Harmony Reynolds.