Some very interesting viewpoints here. I had such a miserable time with puberty, I am kinda braced for a bad menopause :) Then again, I "cured" raging PMS with a diet and lifestyle change, so I really think modern western women set themselves up for a worse time than we'd necessarily have in a fast-food free world.

I have thyroid disease, and have to take my thyroid hormone everyday. I know that even slight variations in hormone levels have big effects, and so my doc and I keep a very careful watch on my levels. Yet every woman I've talked to that was prescribed HRT was pretty much given a "standard" dose and let loose.

While I don't think I'd ever choose HRT for myself, I have to wonder if so much of the controversy and conflicting studies is caused by inadequately tailoring the treatment to individuals. Given the nature of thyroid hormone, incorrect dosages have obvious side effects! (Like falling asleep in the middle of the day!) Perhaps HRT is more subtle when it comes to mis-dosages?