are the higher levels potentially doing more damage?
I understand your concern. I'm not a doctor, nor female by any means, but somehow I ended up with a sail full of wind from the past that it has taken me.

?? ( I think that sentence is suffering from a dangling conjunctive something-izm. Fern could tell you. *Bates his hook with a grasshopper* ).

Perhaps I should echo your "TOO MUCH INFORMATION" warning for this thread:
Seriously again, I urge "older" gals to avoid long term use of estrogen whenever possible, simply because of its reputed effect on cell growth. Extensive use of some soy products included. And I'm wondering about beef and chicken also lately... I need to look into that: I have a feeling the enemy is bringing about the "ESTROGENIZATION of the western world" from many angles.
The alternative I urge is progesterone, which can be made from natural sources, and gotten
over the counter readily, which is "bio identical" to what is produced in your body. Estrogen evidently "multiplies" the effect of progesterone, and is thus... a cheap fix to line the pockets of drug makers, in my opinion: But Im sure some chemist can fill a page with mumbo jumbo that would make it preferable for even an MD to buy the synthetic product: fearing lawsuits.
I know 20mg of progesterone cream provides profound therapeutic relief for PMS and symptoms of pre-menopause in the ten years preceeding normal completion of menopause. I have repeatedly observed this.
I also therefore urge folks to consider this for girls that have JUST given birth, because of the HUGE drop of progesterone from what they are getting imediately prior to birth. ( I think I read that it drops from something like 600 mg/day after the placenta is delivered, to about 20 ?) It's no suprize that post partum depression occurs.
I also wonder about events and "habits" that might inhibit the natural suffiience of those hormones: how about your air, water, meat supply, stress factors, fitness / circulation and so on... maybe worth looking into.
Along those lines, and regarding the "scraping" you mentioned: I believe lactation is a natural source of cleansing contractions. It
has been found to reduce by up to "21 percent" the risk of ovarian cancer, and breast cancer by up to 28 percent. "... the beneficial impact lasts for decades".
Others claim that "Increased levels of oxytocin stimulate postpartum uterine contractions, minimizing blood loss and encouraging rapid uterine toning." Why shouldnt that also be proportionately true for menstrual issues?
Maybe Im reading more into this than is relevant. For singles of course, I seroiusly dont think its the actual lactation that matters, since the prolactin and oxytocin are released by virtue of the stimulation.
Maybe everyone should come to the Rockies where several thousand miles of atlantic air tumble over the snow caps into my back yard. Bring a wheel barrel full of some comodity or other: Self esteem perhaps, or candle wax, which are in short supply in my bunker, considering the looming... long winter.
... the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him....
...The foolish ones said to the wise,
'
Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out...'
Thy word is a lamp...
Disclaimer: I didnt spell check this; Therefore, I am not liable for any mis-information, being a heavy duty truck mechanic with 30 years experience.