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A study from Finland, unveiled at the 26th European Congress of Endocrinology, exposes a concerning correlation between early menopause and heightened mortality risks among women, underscoring the imperative for enhanced focus on women's health and the potential benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Led by researchers from the University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, the study scrutinized approximately 5,800 women diagnosed with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), also known as early menopause, between 1988 and 2017. Comparatively, nearly 23,000 women without POI were assessed for comparison.

While the research, yet to undergo peer review, asserts that women with POI face double the risk of succumbing to heart disease and a quadruple risk of cancer-related mortality, the study also highlights a twofold increase in overall mortality risk among this demographic.

Remarkably, the study discerned no significant disparity in mortality risk between naturally occurring and surgically induced POI, challenging prior assumptions. Lead author Hilla Haapakoski, a Ph.D. student at the University of Oulu, emphasized the study's magnitude saying, "To our knowledge, this is the largest study performed on the linkage between premature ovarian insufficiency and mortality risk."

Dr. Vanessa Soviero, an OB/GYN from the Katz Institute of Women's Health at Northwell Health, echoed the study's implications, emphasizing the pervasive risks that transcend premature menopause to impact women at large. Highlighting the historical underrepresentation of women's health in research, Soviero underscored the study's broader relevance beyond the minority afflicted by POI, including those who undergo ovarian removal at a young age for various medical reasons.

"It isn't just women who experience early menopause," Soviero noted, Medical News Today reported. "Women who've had their ovaries removed at a young age also face these risks."

The study advocates for early initiation of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to mitigate risks associated with premature menopause. Despite prevalent misconceptions surrounding HRT, Soviero championed its efficacy in safeguarding against myriad health hazards, including heart disease, cognitive disorders, and osteoporosis.

"Women can lower their risk with birth control, but many women think they don't need birth control in menopause because they can't get pregnant," Soviero said. "Hormone therapy will reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke, but it will also reduce your risk of cognitive disorders, too, like dementia and Alzheimer's, and osteoporosis and fractures."

The researchers outlined their forthcoming endeavors, which entail evaluating the enduring effects of hormonal therapy.

Haapakoski emphasized, "Various health risks of women with premature ovarian insufficiency have not been well recognized and the use of [hormone replacement therapy] is often neglected. We hope to improve the health of these women by increasing awareness of the risks among healthcare professionals and the women themselves."