North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) Practice Exam

Which estrogen is predominantly found in the postmenopausal period?

1. Estradiol

2. Estrone

3. Estrogen

4. Progesterone

The correct answer is: Estrone

In the postmenopausal period, estrone is the predominant estrogen produced in the body. After menopause, the ovaries significantly reduce their production of estrogen, particularly estradiol, which is the primary form of estrogen during the reproductive years. As ovarian function decreases, adipose (fat) tissue begins to play a more significant role in estrogen synthesis, converting androgens into estrone, which becomes the main circulating estrogen in postmenopausal women. This shift highlights the importance of estrone as the key player in estrogenic activity after menopause, while estradiol levels remain low compared to their peak during the reproductive phase. The other choices do not reflect this postmenopausal context. Estrogen is a broad term that encompasses different forms, and progesterone is primarily involved in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy, not in estrogen production in postmenopausal women.