I first started hormone replacement in my 40's. Unfortunately, it was with synthetics. When I told my new doctor (we had moved), that I wasn't comfortable taking a synthetic, she said she had some success with a low-dose anti-depressant. This seemed to work until I started menopause. Then all the old symptoms came back.
I started compounded hormones and haven't looked back! I feel great! Without them, I am miserable, and because they are compounded I don't have to worry about developing cancer as I did on the synthetic compounds.