I thought I'd swing by and give an update.
For a bit of background, I had a very sudden menopause at 47 when my brother died a year ago. Didn't twig what it was for several months as I have a mirena coil. Was crippled with anxiety and could hardly leave the house. Also had nightmares, sweats, eczema, all sorts.
Patches helped but they kept falling off and when I went HRT cold turkey it was horrendous.
I ended up paying to see a gynaecologist privately. I was getting worried about my job. It gave me peace of mind that there was nothing else going on. She discussed all the options with me. I was keen to try the gel as suggested on here but she made the point that I clearly needed a specific dose and she felt there was too much margin for a varying does. So I've started pill popping! Just over two months later and I'm a new woman. Well I'm the old woman back again. I've a new job and I'm losing the 6 stone I put on. Before we realised about my meno, my GP had been giving me ever higher doses of anti depressants and I'm now on a third of the dose I was 9 weeks ago.
I do understand the desire to have a "natural" menopause but it simply wasn't an option for me. I don't see it as a cop out but me taking back my life, my marriage, my job, and my sanity.