There may be abrupt increases in estrogen. In the middle cycle periods become irregular but they are not skipped. In the late stages, women begin missing the periods until they finally stop. About six months before menopause itself estrogen levels drop significantly. The total estrogen produced after menopause, however, is far less than that produced during a woman's reproductive years.
Women now have a life expectancy of more than eighty years.
Currently, then, women can expect to live some thirty or forty years of their life in the postmenopausal state. During these decades, women are at greater risk for many conditions associated with estrogen depletion, including cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and, possibly, Alzheimer's disease. Well-Connected Reports . These reports are written and updated by experienced medical writers and reviewed and edited by the in-house editors and a board of physicians, including faculty at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. These reports are not intended as a substitute for medical professional help or advice but are to be used only as an aid in understanding current medical knowledge.