HRT is one of those things that may help some people some times.

But there is NO reason to consider menopause itself as some sort of disease that requires "treatment".

Menopause is the cessation of a function, not the advent of anything new.

Over the years I have both read and observed that most, but not all, menopausal symptoms are proportionate the percentile of body fat a woman carries. Less body fat generally equals more comfortable menopause.

Running and muscle-building/ toning excercise are excellent to help to prevent or diminish symptoms.

Also, the eating of traditional soy-based foods such as tofu provide the body with phytoestrogens that maintain a natural and healthy hormonal balance.

Personally I am a great believer in DHEA supplements. They provide the body with the building blocks for hormonal precursers, so the body can manufacture what it needs. The is much different from taking full fledged hormones. If men take DHEA, their body makes the male hormones that are good for them. If we take DHEA, our female body makes the hormones that we need. That is definitely not the same as HRT, thrusting full-fledged hormones into the body.

All in all, I feel incredibly better post-menopause than I ever(!) while having periods!!! Not at all prone to being at the mercy of my emotions, and infinitely calmer and more intensely rational.

Post-menopause feels like I have fully "grown up", and stepped beyond the emotional turmoil of younger life.