Pregnancy can triple stroke risk – LSBU expert explains why
Women who are pregnant or have recently given birth are three times more likely to experience a stroke than those of the same age who are not pregnant. This striking statistic highlights how hormonal and life-stage factors shape stroke risk for women, according to an academic at London South Bank University (LSBU).
In a recent article for The Conversation, Dr Siobhan Mclernon, Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing and co-lead for Ageing, Acute and Long-Term Conditions at LSBU, explores why women face a higher risk of stroke and why this often goes unnoticed.
She notes that stroke is not just a condition of older age: “Increasingly, strokes are not just occurring in older adults. They are affecting younger people in the most productive years of their lives.”
Stroke risk shaped by biology and hormones
Dr Mclernon explains that biology and hormones play a major role throughout a woman’s life. High blood pressure during pregnancy, hormonal contraceptive use and menopause all contribute to increased vulnerability.
Conditions such as gestational hypertension and preeclampsia can damage blood vessels and raise stroke risk both during pregnancy and later in life. Hormonal contraceptives containing oestrogen and progesterone can also increase clotting and blood pressure, particularly in women who smoke or have migraines.
Menopause adds another layer of risk. As oestrogen levels fall, blood vessels become stiffer and more prone to damage, which can lead to stroke. Some forms of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have been linked to a small increase in risk, especially when started many years after menopause.
The article also highlights how symptoms in women are often misinterpreted. While classic signs like facial drooping and speech problems occur in both sexes, women are more likely to report additional symptoms such as headache, fatigue or nausea, which can be mistaken for anxiety or stress.
“Stroke symptoms are more likely to be overlooked in women,” Dr Mclernon warns, noting that delays in recognition can lead to lifelong disability or death.
She calls for urgent action to address these gaps: “Improving outcomes will require stroke prevention strategies that are inclusive, culturally sensitive and tailored to women at different stages of life.”
Dr Mclernon is an experienced neuroscience nurse and researcher whose work focuses on acquired brain injury, particularly vascular brain injury and stroke. She has led pioneering UK research into functional outcomes after intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) in neurocritical care, publishing internationally recognised studies that have shaped understanding of patient recovery and clinical decision-making. Her expertise spans acute stroke care, health inequalities and risk awareness in diverse communities.