Menopause and cholesterol

Q: My cholesterol has risen from around 200 to 230 in the past two years. That is about the same time I went into menopause. Is there a relationship between menopause and cholesterol?

A: After menopause, women produce less estrogen, which can result in increased triglycerides and LDL (“bad” cholesterol) levels and lower HDL (“good” cholesterol). Some of these changes are a direct result of estrogen deficiency, but weight gain and aging also play a role.  

Women who are at or near menopause can counter some of these changes by becoming more physically active, and achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. For some people, lifestyle changes are enough to lower cholesterol, but others might need to add medication. 

Jennifer H. Mieres, M.D., is director of nuclear cardiology and associate professor of clinical medicine at New York University. She’s also a spokesperson for the American Heart Association.