International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Oestrogen could be helpful for people who hit the menopause earlier than usual, a women's health study has found.

Mayo Clinic researchers in Minnesota in the US discovered the hormone could protect females who have already been through the change before the age of 50 from strokes.

This goes against current beliefs that oestrogen is a risk factor for such haemorrhages in individuals of all ages.

"We were very surprised because these results were unexpected," epidemiologist and neurologist at the body Walter Rocca said.

The scientists discovered the effect of oestrogen on younger women when combining Mayo Clinic findings with those from six other studies from across the globe and the expert now recommends that ladies who go through the change before the age of 50 take the hormone.

A study by the University of Southern California in the US recently found consuming soy protein can reduce the risk of postmenopausal women suffering from coronary heart disease.

Posted by David Smith