Both are followed by a gradual decline during the following 8 years. The hormone progesterone works during second half of menstrual cycle creating thickened endometrium and also delines during this time of life. If women are given large amounts of estrogen orally or parenterally, it will not cause FSH levels to return to normal because FSH is mainly controlled by inhibin and inhibin levels still remain low due to absent follicles. These usually occur 2-3 years after onset of menopause and not longer. Decrease in estrogen-androgen ratio causes acceleration of groth of facial hair.
Androgens continue to be produced mostly by the adrenal cortex.
Androstenedions is converted to estrone in the peripheral body fat and its rate conversion increases with age. A percentage of androstenedions are converted to estrone. The more body fat, the more estrone is produced by conversion. Menopausal women develop thin and wrinkled skin. It was shown in a randomized clinical trial that women who used estrogen replacement after menopause maintained their premenopausal skin thickness whereas the placebo group had progressively thinner skin with less collagen in the dermis as they aged.