Menopause
Study offers new insights into link between menopause and cardiovascular health
Post-menopausal women show higher cholesterol even in populations with the world’s healthiest hearts, suggesting menopause affects cardiovascular health everywhere.
Researchers studying the Tsimane, a forager-horticultural community in the Bolivian Amazon with exceptionally low heart disease rates, found their post-menopausal women had rises in blood lipids – fats in the blood such as cholesterol that contribute to heart disease.
Five of the six measured factors, including triglycerides, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, were 1.5 to 11 per cent higher after menopause in Tsimane women.
DL cholesterol, often known as “bad cholesterol”, can build up in artery walls and increase heart attack risk.
The research team from Arizona State University had expected different results given the Tsimane’s unusually healthy cardiovascular systems and lifestyle.
Madeleine Getz is a PhD student in global health at ASU’s School of Human Evolution and Social Change and lead author.
She said: “While we have good data from industrialised populations, to our knowledge, nobody had looked at this relationship in a non-industrial, highly active population like the Tsimane before.
“To see these risk factors increase after menopause in this population, despite their incredibly low levels of heart disease, was unexpected.”
The Tsimane live a traditional hunter-farmer lifestyle with diets free of processed foods and very high physical activity, averaging 15,000 to 20,000 steps a day.
Previous studies have shown they have the lowest dementia rates and healthiest hearts of any population studied.
Despite their lifestyle, the cholesterol rise after menopause mirrored that seen in industrialised nations, though at much lower levels.
The increases were two to seven times smaller than those recorded in the US and UK.
“This suggests that these increases in cholesterol around menopause may be a human universal, no matter how or where we live,” Getz said.
Benjamin Trumble, senior author and professor at ASU’s School of Human Evolution and Social Change, co-directs the Tsimane Health and Life History Project, which has worked with the community for more than 20 years.
“Working with populations like the Tsimane allows us to see global variation in both menopause and human health,” Trumble said.
“The findings here suggest that menopause is associated with increased risk factors for heart disease, even in the population with the healthiest hearts in the world.
“That suggests that post-menopausal increases in heart disease may be a human universal, and part of our underlying physiology regardless of lifestyle choices.”
The findings indicate that hormonal changes during menopause affect cardiovascular health regardless of lifestyle.
In industrialised nations, women face increased heart disease risk after menopause, when oestrogen levels fall.
Digital diagnostics company Medichecks has acquired specialist menopause health platform and clinic My Menopause Centre.
The deal is part of Medichecks’ move into clinical services and follows its earlier purchase of Leger Clinic, creating what the company describes as a hormone health offering for women and men across the UK.
Medichecks and My Menopause Centre will combine digital services with clinical governance. The acquisition aims to enhance Medichecks’ ability to deliver integrated testing, diagnosis and ongoing clinical support.
The combined group plans to grow its specialist hormone health services, supporting patients across the UK with clinical care throughout different stages of their hormone health journey.
Helen Marsden, co-founder of Medichecks, said: “At Medichecks, our mission is to make healthcare more accessible, evidence-based and patient-centred.
“Helen and Clare have built an outstanding, clinically credible platform that is transforming menopause care for women across the UK.
“Medichecks now owns two CQC Outstanding-rated clinics, the only clinics in their respective sectors to achieve this rating, and we are deeply committed to delivering safe, compassionate and patient-centric care.
“We’re proud to continue the founders’ legacy while supporting the next stage of growth, ensuring more women can access high-quality menopause care when they need it most.”
The CQC, or Care Quality Commission, is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.
The acquisition supports Medichecks’ plans to make hormone healthcare more accessible by delivering integrated testing, diagnosis and ongoing clinical support for patients across the UK.
Helen Normoyle, co-founder and chief executive of My Menopause Centre, said: “We set out to build something resilient, clinically credible and scalable, not just fast.
“Our mission has always been to make menopause care compassionate, accessible and grounded in evidence. Medichecks shares that vision.
“Their digital platform, commitment to clinical excellence and patient-centred care make them the ideal partner to take My Menopause Centre into its next chapter.
“This milestone reflects not only a strong product, but a remarkable team and community.
“I’m deeply proud of what we’ve built and excited to see My Menopause Centre grow further under Medichecks’ leadership.”
Menopause specialist Dr Mary Claire Haver has been appointed as the first chief agewell officer at virtual care clinic Midi Health.
In the role, Dr Haver will work with Midi’s clinical team to develop the AgeWell platform, described as a proactive health model that integrates perimenopause and menopausal care with metabolic health, bone density, brain health and cardiovascular risk assessment.
The platform aims to provide preventative care targeting what the company describes as the primary drivers of female mortality and disability: heart disease, bone loss and cognitive decline.
Joanna Strober, chief executive and co-founder of Midi Health, said: “Longevity care has historically ignored women’s biology, especially during the critical windows of midlife and menopause.
“At Midi Health, we are committed to extending healthspan, not just lifespan, and making that care accessible to millions of women as a core pillar of their health.
“By collaborating with Dr Haver, we are ensuring women continue to have access to care designed for their bodies, their hormones, and their real lives.”
Dr Haver is board-certified in obstetrics and gynaecology, a Menopause Society certified practitioner, a certified culinary medicine specialist and an adjunct associate professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at The University of Texas Medical Branch.
After a career in academic medicine, Dr Haver founded The Pause Life, described as a science and education-based resource for women navigating perimenopause and the menopause transition.
Through her books, unPaused podcast and digital platform, she has provided education on midlife health.
Dr Mary Claire Haver said: “I have spent my career advocating for women to receive the science-backed, no-nonsense guidance they deserve.
“I chose to partner with Midi Health because they are the only platform with the scale and medical rigour to deliver the kind of care women deserve, regardless of their zip codes.
“Together, we are setting a new standard for proactive, preventative care that meaningfully extends both lifespan and healthspan for women.”
Mira has integrated with Oura, letting users see sleep, readiness and temperature trends alongside hormone readings in the Mira app.
The integration lets Mira users view Oura sleep, readiness and temperature trends next to hormone data to show how hormonal shifts affect daily wellbeing. Oura members must consent to share their data with Mira.
Oura is a smart ring that tracks sleep patterns, heart rate and body temperature.
Sylvia Kang, chief executive and founder of Mira. said: “Hormones affect nearly every system in the body, yet are rarely measured or contextualised with daily health signals.
“By bringing these data streams together in one app, Mira and Oura help women move beyond isolated metrics to understand patterns.
“By connecting hormone data with daily health signals, we’re giving women insights they can act on, whether managing fertility, navigating perimenopause, or addressing hormonal imbalances.”
The integration supports several health journeys.
In perimenopause and menopause, users can track temperature and sleep with hormone changes to spot disruptions and improve rest.
For fertility and menstrual cycle awareness, combining hormone data with temperature and wellness signals can help confirm ovulation and clarify cycle patterns.
Users can also link fatigue or poor sleep with hormonal shifts to inform clinical discussions.
Dr Chris Curry is clinical director of women’s health at Oura.
Curry said: “Hormonal changes play a critical role in how women feel each day and are a through line that connects so many aspects of health, from first periods, to menstrual cycles, pregnancy, perimenopause and beyond.
“By combining Mira’s lab-grade hormone data with Oura’s continuous biometrics, we’re helping women see how hormonal shifts show up in their everyday lives.
“This integrated view supports our goal of always supporting body literacy.”
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