Women with a history of miscarriage, stillbirth and infertility are at increased risk of stroke in later life, Australian research suggests. 

The findings show recurrent miscarriages are linked with a 35% increased risk of later stroke, stillbirths a 31% increased risk and infertility with a 14% increased risk.

And recurrent stillbirths are associated with a 26% higher risk of fatal stroke in later life, according to the analysis in the BMJ.

Researcher Professor Gita Mishra from the University of Queensland in Brisbane said the study showed the more miscarriages or stillbirths a woman had, the higher the risk of stroke.