Levels of bad cholesterol rise during menopause, and 10% of this increase is likely due to shifts in sex hormones. Women usually undergo menopause at the age of 48 to 52 years, leading to a decline in estrogen and increase in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Menopause is thought to predispose women to heart disease since it typically develops 10 years later than in men, and risk rises after menopause.
