Hi and welcome Ruby10
Do tell us more about yrouself. How old are you? What are your periods like? How long have you been getting meno symptoms? How long have you suffered with CFS?
There is nothing natural about the menopause - 100 years ago, if you survived beyond your 50s, you may well have been one of these lucky women who didn't suffer too badly with the menopause. WE are now expected to work into are late 60s adn often have elderly parent to care for and children who need more help than we did when young - we are the sandwich generating that have more stress than every before.
The HRT's today are largely ‘natural' (bio identical) - one should not see HRT as a drug but as a supplement to replace vital substances the body would produce if it could - using HRT is not going against nature. Oestrogen has many benefits for health - heart, bones, bladder, skin, ENERGY, joints, mental wellbeing and the immune system all benefit from oestrogen, so when oestrogen declines then all these things decline with it.
HRT does not suit everyone and not everyone needs it - the progesterone part of HRT (needed if you still have a womb) can bring side effects - so it's about benefits versus side effects - unlike so many drugs, HRT has very few risks. If you don't try it, you'll never know - so many women find they get their life back. CFS is often greatly improved when HRT is used. DG x