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Girls who start their periods before they turn 12 are at greater risk of developing heart disease and stroke in later life, according to a new study of nearly 300,000 women in the UK by The George Institute for Global Health at the University of Oxford.

Woman holding a red heart shape near to her belly

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Women who give birth at a young age, experience miscarriage or stillbirth, or who go through the menopause early, are also more likely to develop cardiovascular disease when they get older, the study found.

‘This study clarifies the mixed findings of previous research, and underlines the life-long impact of women’s reproductive health,’ said lead author Dr Sanne Peters, Research Fellow in Epidemiology at The George Institute, Oxford.

Read more (University of Oxford website)