what early menopause means for the heart

Here are the most interesting items we saw this week in women’s health:

🧠 The brain fog is real, but for what reason? A study of around 14,000 women ages 45–55 found that perimenopausal women report significantly more symptoms like memory lapses than premenopausal women. But objective testing showed almost no measurable cognitive decline—mood, anxiety, and sleep are likely the stronger culprits.

⚖️ Two Florida women had court hearings while in active labor. ProPublica documented cases in which hospitals petitioned the state to override patients’ decisions about their own deliveries *while those women were actively laboring*. Florida courts have ruled that pregnant patients can be forced into unwanted procedures (in this case, C-sections instead of vaginal birth), and legislation moving through the state could expand those powers further.

❤️ Early menopause is a heart disease warning sign. Women who stop menstruating before 40 have a 40% higher risk of coronary heart disease, according to a JAMA Cardiology study. Black women are three times more likely to experience premature menopause, a racial health disparity that translates directly into higher lifetime cardiac risk.

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Meghan McCarthy

Maternie was founded in 2017 by Meghan McCarthy. Meghan has spent her career digging through information and breaking it down for readers. After spending seven years reporting on Capitol Hill, Meghan co-founded at Morning Consult, where she built and led the company's content operation. She also helped build and lead Courier Newsroom, a progressive media organization. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, The Atlantic, NPR, and other national news outlets.