Women who experience infertility are at a higher risk of developing heart and blood vessel conditions later in life, with younger women and those who undergo fertility treatments facing even greater risks. These findings, presented at the first Joint Congress of the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE), emphasize the importance of considering a woman’s reproductive history when assessing her long-term heart health.
Approximately one in six people of reproductive age globally will experience infertility at some point in their lives. Infertility treatments often include in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technologies (ART). While previous research has suggested that infertility might be an early indicator of cardiovascular risk, findings have been inconsistent, and no comprehensive review has yet thoroughly assessed the impact of fertility treatments on heart health.
In this study, Greek researchers from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens analyzed 21 studies involving 178,828 women with infertility and 3,398,781 women without fertility issues. They found that women with infertility have a 14% higher risk of developing heart or blood vessel conditions, a 17% increased risk of heart disease, and a 16% higher risk of stroke compared to women without infertility. The risk of cardiovascular disease was 20% higher in younger women with infertility, especially those under 40. Women who underwent assisted reproductive treatments had a 4% increased risk of heart disease.
Dr. Armeni, one of the researchers, stated, “Recognizing infertility as an early marker for cardiovascular disease could help doctors identify women who may need closer monitoring or preventive care earlier in life. It also raises concerns about the long-term effects of fertility treatments such as ART.”
She added, “Earlier studies didn’t always find a strong link between infertility and heart disease. In our meta-analysis, we focused on high-quality studies and performed in-depth analyses based on study design and participant age to address this.”
This study highlights the need for healthcare providers to pay closer attention to women’s reproductive histories when assessing their heart health, especially as fertility treatments continue to rise in popularity.
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