Back in the 70's doctors seemed to have no problems do hysterectomies on woman like a tonsillectomy. i had mine done and i was 24 years old! I did not have cancer, but, "female problems". i went into to menopause immediately and no one told me what was happening to me!! i went several years without any kind of hormone therapy. i was miserable both physically and emotionally. i finally got help several years later and felt so much more comfortable and my body was more stable. no heat flashes, chills, lack of sleep, emotional roller coaster all of the time. had a sex drive back. i was on a pharmaceutical hormone and took myself off of them for a couple of years because of things i had read about synthetic hormones. same scenario for me, but, even worse symptoms this time around. my doc did blood work and I had no estrogen or testosterone in my system at all! I was so miserable and I got a prescription for my compound hormones and I have more energy, sleep better, not depressed, not soaking to the bone with heat flashes. I am now elderly and still need them. I will fight tooth and nail to keep them!! I pay out of pocket, because insurance won't pay for some weird reason! I do not want the FDA in my personal business. I like my small pharmacy and they keep me sane with their great service!!