Ovaries Stay Active After Menopause, New Research Finds

New research is reshaping our understanding of ovarian function after menopause. Contrary to long-held assumptions, ovaries remain molecularly active for decades, producing hormones and influencing health in ways that scientists are only beginning to uncover. This discovery challenges historical medical practices and could redefine approaches to women’s long-term health.

Ovaries Remain Active Postmenopause

For decades, the medical community assumed that ovaries became inert after menopause, serving no meaningful function beyond reproductive years. However, recent research led by scientists at Northwestern University and other institutions challenges this notion. According to findings reported by WIRED, ovaries remain molecularly active long after menopause, undergoing significant changes across decades in postmenopausal women.

Historical Practices and Health Risks

The assumption that postmenopausal ovaries were biologically inactive led to a common practice: removing healthy ovaries during hysterectomies, particularly in women over 50. However, this approach has come under scrutiny. Research suggests that this practice may harm women’s overall health, increasing the risk of dementia, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. This shift in understanding has led medical professionals to reconsider the necessity of ovary removal unless there is a high risk of ovarian cancer.

Hormone Production and Its Effects

One of the most striking findings is that postmenopausal ovaries continue to produce hormones, including testosterone and small amounts of estrogen. These hormones may play a crucial role in maintaining memory, libido, bone density, and muscle mass. Pauline Maki of the University of Illinois at Chicago noted that women with higher postmenopausal estrogen levels showed better memory function during tasks, suggesting a link between ovarian activity and cognitive health.

Inflammation and Disease Risks

While the ovaries’ persistence in hormone production is notable, their activity is not without potential risks. Studies in mice, as reported by WIRED, reveal that aging ovaries exhibit increased inflammatory and immune activity. Genes linked to these processes become far more active, and the number of immune cells in the ovary rises with age. These changes may contribute to a higher risk of age-related diseases, including ovarian cancer.

The Science Behind Postmenopausal Ovarian Activity

The biological mechanisms behind postmenopausal ovarian activity remain an area of active investigation. David Pépin, a reproductive biologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, suggests that the stroma—a component of the ovary—may take over hormone production as follicles disappear. This hypothesis is part of a broader effort to understand how the ovary reorganizes itself to preserve function long after its reproductive role has ended. However, the importance of postmenopausal ovaries may vary among women, and more research is needed to refine clinical recommendations.

What this means

LazyFounders analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

This research underscores a critical gap in women’s health: the oversimplification of ovarian function as purely reproductive. For decades, medical practices like removing ovaries during hysterectomies were based on the assumption that they served no purpose postmenopause. The new findings suggest that ovaries play a far more complex role in long-term health, from hormone production to immune activity.

For founders and operators in the women’s health space, this is a call to rethink product and service design. The discovery of postmenopausal ovarian activity opens opportunities for targeted therapies, diagnostics, and even preventive care strategies. It also highlights the need for more nuanced research—particularly in areas like aging, hormone replacement, and disease risk—where one-size-fits-all approaches may fall short. The takeaway? Women’s health innovation must account for the biological complexity that persists long after reproductive years.

Key takeaways

• Ovaries remain molecularly active after menopause, with significant changes occurring over decades, challenging the assumption that they become inert.
• Removing ovaries during hysterectomies has been linked to increased risks of dementia, cardiovascular disease, and premature death, suggesting their postmenopausal role is more important than previously thought.
• Postmenopausal ovaries continue producing hormones like testosterone and estrogen, which may support memory, libido, bone health, and muscle maintenance.
• Aging ovaries in mice show increased inflammatory and immune activity, which could elevate the risk of diseases like ovarian cancer.
• The stroma, a component of the ovary, may take over hormone production as follicles disappear, but this requires further study.
• The importance of postmenopausal ovaries varies among women, and their removal is generally not recommended unless there is a high risk of ovarian cancer.

FAQ

Why were ovaries historically removed during hysterectomies?

Ovaries were often removed during hysterectomies under the assumption that they became biologically inert after menopause, serving no function beyond reproduction. This practice was also thought to eliminate the risk of ovarian cancer.

What hormones do postmenopausal ovaries produce?

Postmenopausal ovaries continue to produce hormones such as testosterone and small amounts of estrogen. These hormones may support memory, libido, bone health, and muscle maintenance.

Are there risks associated with aging ovaries?

Yes. Studies in mice suggest that aging ovaries show increased inflammatory and immune activity, which could raise the risk of age-related diseases, including ovarian cancer. However, more research is needed to fully understand these risks in humans.

Should postmenopausal women consider ovary removal?

Generally, no. The removal of postmenopausal ovaries is not recommended unless there is a high risk of ovarian cancer. Research indicates that ovaries continue to play a role in long-term health, and their removal has been linked to increased risks of dementia, cardiovascular disease, and premature death.

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