So true, Mrs. B! There is also a case for counselling women about their expectations of HRT. I read some guidelines from one NHS trust (I can't remember which, but they were very good) about advising women of what CAN be achieved with HRT and how it's not be be expected to be a 'cure all' for everything. I think this is a very valid point.
For instance, in a thread I posted on today I spoke about how Professor Studd on his own website says that anxiety is very difficult to treat with HRT and that he advises women to seek counselling in addition if this is part of their symptoms. I know this will surprise some, but it's there in his own writings. He also stated that depression post menopause is NOT helped by estrogen replacement therapy unless it is due in some way to an improvement in vasomotor symptoms and therefore sleep quality and quality of life (this is repeated in numerous other sources elsewhere). The benefit to mood is seen predominantly in women who are in the menopause transition.
I'm just picking these two examples, but there are others of course.
I think a good question to ask first of all when you see any Consultant is 'what improvements to my symptoms can I expect from hrt' and take a list. That way, the Consultant can advise you if the things that are bothering you CAN be helped by HRT, and how much of an improvement may be possible with the right type/dose.
I've learned all this the hard way myself over the last 2 years - there is no 'magic bullet' that will be able to fix everything, unfortunately . xxxxx