Ask the Doctor Q&A: Menopause and Cholesterol
Question:
Does the process of going through menopause affect cholesterol levels?
Answer:
Cholesterol levels can increase after menopause. Cholesterol is affected by a woman's estrogen level, and there is less estrogen in the post-menopausal years. We can estimate the effect of menopause on cholesterol by watching the changes that happen, on average, when estrogen replacement is used at standard doses in postmenopausal women:
- Estrogen lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol by 15%. Menopause raises LDL.
- Estrogen raises HDL (good) cholesterol by 16%. Menopause lowers HDL.
- Estrogen raises triglycerides by 24%. Menopause lowers triglycerides.
Women have a jump up in risk for heart disease after menopause. However, this is not explained by the changes in cholesterol alone. After all, damage to arteries from cholesterol (atherosclerosis) is a very slow process that begins in young adulthood. Replacing estrogen after menopause can improve cholesterol, but studies show estrogen does not prevent heart disease. If high cholesterol appears or worsens after menopause, it should be treated with diet changes, exercise, and a statin cholesterol medicine if a drug is needed.
- Added to Medpedia December 2008