I was diagnosed as fully menopausal at age 42. Ten years later, I still am treating hot flashes and sleep difficulties. My mood swings have clearly been related to the times when I couldn't sleep. Sleeping pills made me very groggy all day, so that didn't help. I now take 5 mg of melatonin every night and it really does the trick. An ice pack on the back of the neck makes my hot flashes go away instantly.

Two years ago I went on low-dose HRT and felt immediately better. Every symptom disappeared. BUT...after only 5 months I landed in the hospital with ischemic colitis...a very rare condition for someone my age. It is basically like a heart attack, except in the colon. The doctors immediately took away the hormones and I seem to be fine now. I'm grateful it happened in my gut and not my heart.

Everyone is different, but please do take the warnings about HRT seriously. If you have a family disposition toward arterial diseases, you're taking a big risk.

I also agree that hormonal symptoms are impacted by other things going on in life, so it's important to treat the whole person.

Good luck! You're entering a bold and wonderful time of life!