Hi,
This is the first time I've gone without a period for that long but I'm definitely peri because I and I haven't gone a year without a period. This is how it started for me. During 2014, 2015 and 2016 my periods were regular but quite heavy. In the spring of 2016 I noticed that they were lasting more than 7 days and in October 2016 I first missed one. Then from 2017 to the end of 2018 I would have a period every other month. In the spring of 2018 I became increasingly dizzy, almost on a daily basis and in various degrees. It was so bad that I had some tests done to see what was wrong with me. I thought somrthing was very wrong and I had a health scare but, thankfully, they never found anything. At the time I didn't associate this with the menopause because I still had periods. Then from January to March 2019 I had a normal period every month. It then starting waning in April 2019 (a very light one) and from May 2019 to January 2020 it was every 3 months. Now since January I had nothing. I'm just hoping that it"s the beginning of the end and that my periods won't come back otherwise it could take forever to reach the menopause. But from what you're saying, it seems that, even for me, it may be a long journey as my periods could come back, and, in which case, it still makes me perimenopausal.
As for HRT, I'm not taking it because I'm worried that I might not be able to wean myself off of it and that the symptoms may come back. Also there's no guarantee that HRT can alleviate all the symptoms and it might cause more issues. You can see on this forum how many women have issues with it.
Because you can't tell with HRT, it won't be possible to know when the menopause has naturally occurred. Also, I'm not keen on the bleeding part of it.