When I went into perimenopause, I began to gain weight, and become irritable, my blood pressure went up and my doctor prescribed a standard hormone replacement pill for me to take. It didn't work. I went through 5 prescriptions for hormone replacement therapy to help my symptoms. None worked and some made my symptoms worse. When my doctor finally said he would approve of me taking bio-identical hormones, I felt I had nothing to lose. Once I started them, my symptoms finally decreased and I regained the quality of life I had missed. They are a lifesaver for many women.