Sex-specific risk factors for stroke in women: Focus on the 2024 AHA/ASA guideline

Women are less likely to have a stroke compared with men, but certain sex-specific risk factors can increase their risk for ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke later in life. The 2024 American Heart Association and American Stroke Association guideline for primary prevention of stroke emphasizes female-specific factors that increase risk for stroke, including adverse pregnancy outcomes, premature and early menopause, endometriosis, and certain hormone therapies (eg, combined hormonal contraceptives). This review explores these sex-specific risk enhancers and highlights the importance of a detailed gynecologic and obstetric history when assessing stroke risk in women.