Women have a lower rate of heart disease than men.
When women do get heart disease, it generally occurs after menopause, when their bodies stop producing estrogen. So it seems that estrogen may protect against heart disease. In fact, estrogen does lower the level of bad cholesterol in the body as well as raise the level of good cholesterol in the body. In addition, it has a direct effect on the blood vessels to improve the flow of blood through them and protects against blood clotting. It also has antioxidant properties which also help prevent heart disease.