A new study shows that women who go through menopause earlier in life may have a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome, a serious condition that raises the chance of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
This important finding was shared at the 2025 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society in Orlando.
Metabolic syndrome isn’t just one illness—it’s a group of health problems that occur together. These include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high levels of fat in the blood (especially triglycerides), and extra belly fat.
Each one of these is risky on its own, but when combined, they dramatically raise the risk for major health problems, including blocked arteries, blood clots, organ damage, and even certain cancers.
The researchers wanted to learn more about how the age at which a woman experiences natural menopause affects her chances of developing metabolic syndrome later. They studied electronic health records from over 234,000 women who had gone through natural menopause between the ages of 30 and 60.
The study did not include women who went through menopause due to surgery (like hysterectomy), cancer treatments, or who were taking hormone therapy.
Overall, 11.7% of women in the study had metabolic syndrome. But when they looked more closely, they found that 13.5% of women who had early menopause developed the condition, compared to only 10.8% of those who had later menopause.
After adjusting for factors like race, medications, and body weight, the researchers found that early menopause increased the risk of metabolic syndrome by 27%.
So, what’s the connection? As women age, estrogen levels drop. Estrogen plays a protective role in the body—it helps regulate fat and sugar levels and supports the heart and blood vessels.
When estrogen levels drop earlier than usual, the body may lose that protection sooner, making women more vulnerable to the health issues that lead to metabolic syndrome.
Dr. Shefali Setia Verman from the University of Pennsylvania, one of the lead researchers, said that the age a woman reaches menopause isn’t just a marker for fertility—it’s also a warning sign for long-term health risks.
Knowing that early menopause raises the risk of metabolic syndrome gives doctors a chance to act sooner. That could mean recommending lifestyle changes, more frequent check-ups, or early treatment to prevent serious health problems later on.
Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director of The Menopause Society, added that this study adds to the growing evidence that early menopause is linked to worse health outcomes. The better we understand these risks, the better we can help women avoid them.
In summary, women who experience menopause earlier than average should be aware that they may face a higher risk of metabolic syndrome.
Knowing this can help them—and their doctors—take steps to protect their health before serious problems begin. Simple changes like eating a healthy diet, staying active, and regularly checking blood pressure and blood sugar could make a big difference.
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