Why does the body still produce some estrogen after menopause?

After menopause, the body continues to produce small amounts of estrogen because the ovaries are not the only source of this hormone. While the ovaries are the primary producers during a woman's reproductive years, adipose tissue (body fat) becomes an important site of estrogen production in postmenopausal women.1

This process relies on the presence of an enzyme known as aromatase, which converts androgens—specifically androstenedione—into estrogens. Although the overall production of estrogen drops significantly following the cessation of ovarian function, this peripheral conversion in fat tissue ensures that estrogen levels do not reach zero.12