We will all have to explore natural hormone replacement now that synthetic estrogen has been proven to create health risks. I found that Primrose Oil really helped with perimenopausal symptoms. Also, I couldn't have survived the changes without my natural progesterone cream. You can get it at Healthfood stores or through mail order Vitamin companies. I recently went away and forgot to pack it. I started with hot flashes and night sweats and was releived of them when I returned to my daily dose of Progesterone. Catherine Dalton's books about Progesterone are very informative. I believe one title is "Once A Month" There are various alternatives to prescription HRT.