Final answer:
During the peri-menopause phase of the climacteric, estrogen levels remain relatively unchanged while progesterone levels decrease. However, as a woman transitions into menopause, estrogen levels fluctuate and eventually diminish, which is the hormone that experiences a rise during the climacteric and then diminishes after menopause.
Step-by-step explanation:
The levels of hormones fluctuate significantly during a woman's menstrual cycle as well as during the transition to menopause. In the context of the climacteric and menopause, it's important to understand the hormonal changes that take place. The climacteric is a period of time leading up to menopause when hormonal changes begin to occur as a woman's reproductive capabilities start to wane.
During the peri-menopause phase, which marks the beginning of the climacteric, the menstrual cycle becomes irregular, but doesn't cease entirely. At this point, a woman may still experience nearly the same levels of estrogen as before the transition, yet there is a notable reduction in the levels of progesterone produced by the corpus luteum.
Because of this hormonal shift, the endometrium may undergo abnormal growth, increasing the risk of conditions like endometrial cancer. Symptoms associated with these changing hormone levels include hot flashes, night sweats, difficulty sleeping, and mood swings. Leading up to menopause, estrogen levels will fluctuate and eventually diminish after menopause. Therefore, the correct option that rises during the climacteric and then diminishes after menopause is A. Estrogen levels.