Researchers have discovered a significant link between menstrual disorders, such as excessive menstruation (menorrhagia) and irregular menstruation, as well as dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps), and the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), as per a Mendelian randomization study issued in prestigious Frontiers in Endocrinology explained.

Sijia Lai et al. explored the causal relationship between menstrual disorders and dysmenorrhea that can be associated with CVD. Data on menstrual disorders (menorrhagia and irregular menstruation) were sourced from the FinnGen study, while information on CVD was obtained from the UK Biobank and meta-analysis. The primary method utilized for causal analysis in the Mendelian randomization was the inverse-variance-weighted approach. Additionally, sensitivity analyses were conducted using various methods based on diverse model hypotheses.

Genetic predisposition to menorrhagia correlated with an increased likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation while showing a reduced risk of hypertension. On the other hand, irregular menstrual cycles were linked to elevated risks of atrial fibrillation, hypertension, myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, and coronary heart disease. Additionally, menstrual cramps were associated with a higher risk of both cardioembolic stroke. Irregular menstruation was related with a higher probability of myocardial infarction after the Benjamini-Hochberg correction.