Nicole, I think you've probably hit it square on. And I doubt it's only male doctors who prescribe in a one-dose-fits-all fashion. I know a number of female physicians who are just as arrogant and insensitive as some of their male counterparts. And Carol, I'm sure that the treatments you're using are effective for you, but that's a long way from saying it has "no side effects, and it is risk free" -- which is what your original post said.

As I see it, this discussion is a sort of "blind people and the elephant" situation, where everybody focuses on their own bit of experience and point of view, and most everyone is at least partly correct. If you want to bash the medical and pharmaceutical industries, this is certainly a good opportunity to do so. But remember that they're not all bad, nor are "natural" medicines all good.

My view is that if a woman spends her adolescence and early adulthood taking in very little calcium, eating poorly in general, ingesting the excessive synthetic estrogens that are present in most meats and dairy products, and getting very little exercise (which is true of most Americans), she's going to be behind the 8-ball when she reaches "our" age, with respect to osteoporosis, increased risk of cancer, and possibly menopausal symptoms as well. Fortunately, moderate exercise and a good diet can make most people healthier at any age.

For those who are experiencing clear benefits from HRT, I wouldn't get all panicked because of what is essentially a sensationalized repackaging of information that has been known for a while. On the other hand, it's always best to be cautious and well-informed. You pays your money and you takes your chances.

Aloha,
Mark