"Then there is the protection factor which I think is what I would be prescribed it for - using HRT to protect again bone loss primarily."
All HRT will go some way to help this. However in terms of the medical side the medium dose HRT options and above are seen as helping your bone health and are certified to do this. Lower and Ultra low HRT are not.
Other non HRT options for bone strength are known to keep bone mass but have issues regarding bone strength still and have knockon effects to the bodies own bone building processes.
Not something thats an issue with HRT sourced bone protection
In terms of CVD!
The longer you put off HRT then there is less chance of the protection people are percieving on this front.
This is why recent views have said that taking the pill into peri and starting HRT sooner is seen as better for us in terms of looking after our cvd , circulation and bones for the longer term.
Your CVD risk can change relatively quickly ie less exercise, diet goes bad and unfortunately menopause too.
So its great to think about these things however keep in mind that the longer we wait and put things off then the longer things take for HRT to help and repair.
However in terms of areas like CVD and circulation, urinary , va and some breast changes these will not be fully fixed or reversed if HRT if it is taken later.