what hormones protects women from developing this problem prior to menopause
Updated September 05, 2016. It is now well-known that estrogen protects women from developing certain types of heart disease. Prior to menopause, women produce sufficient amounts of estrogen that decreases their risk of having a heart attack to much less than that of a man. After menopause, though, estrogen levels fall, and by age 60 to 65, men and women have approximately equal risk.