The postmenopausal ovary is still active

The prevailing view has long been that ovaries become largely inactive after menopause. They stop releasing eggs and no longer produce the quantities of estrogen the body was accustomed to before. But that does not mean they are biologically inert, argues the article in Science.

Postmenopausal ovaries still produce hormones, including androgens, the group of sex hormones that includes testosterone. Those androgens can be converted into estrogen in other tissues through a process called aromatization. That locally produced estrogen may have effects on surrounding tissues, including breast tissue, bone, and the cardiovascular system. How much influence this postmenopausal hormone synthesis has on long-term health remains largely unknown.

A forgotten organ with an active role

The article also argues that the ovary remains involved in immune regulation and inflammation after menopause. Ovarian tissue contains substantial numbers of immune cells, and their composition shifts after menopause. Whether those changes have health consequences independent of the hormonal transition is an open question.

From a longevity perspective, this matters. Women live longer on average than men, but spend a considerable portion of their lives after menopause. If the ovary remains biologically active during that phase and influences inflammation, bone density, or cardiovascular health, understanding that role is important for developing more targeted interventions. The authors call for more research on the postmenopausal ovary as its own field of study, distinct from the broader debate on hormone therapy.

Hormone production does not stop entirely

The broader implication is that hormone therapy after menopause is not the only story. The ovary itself may still play a role that is barely understood. That calls for more focused studies on what ovaries actually do after menopause, and whether that activity is protective, neutral, or harmful in the context of aging.

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