Protecting your heart is just one piece of the puzzle. New guidance on the four stages of a woman’s life highlights the connection between heart health, hormones and mental well-being to help women get care that fits her life. The American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine developed this landmark framework, announced today, to support a woman’s heart health across her life course. The female life stages are: 1. Around the first period (around ages 8-15); 2. Menstrual cycling (around ages 15-44); 3. Menopause transition or perimenopause (around ages 45-51); and 4. Postmenopause (around age 51 and after). Each stage plays an important role in current and future cardiovascular health. The recommendations in the 2026 Compendium on Women's Cardiovascular Health Across the Life Course support more female-specific screening, prevention and treatment considerations throughout a woman's life. For more information on the female life stages and how to take care of your heart through every stage, visit goredforwomen.org/stages-of-….