I"m with you ladies when it comes to hormone replacements. I'm not wanting to even try them since I've heard too many scary things about it.
I have several medical problems that I'm on meds for, and take those because they help to keep me going, but I avoid whatever meds that I can.
In the past I've been prescribed Celebrex for my arthritis but opted not to take them because they really aren't going to lengthen my life, and the side affects might actually shorten it. I was on Celebrex for about 4 months, and that's when I had my heart attack. I had been off it for several months due to the expense (it was VERY pricey!) when it came out that celebrex has been proven to cause heart problems.
I'd rather ache than have another heart attack!
In the same vein, I'd rather wait out these pesty menopause symptoms to go away on their own than to end up with cancer or something else from taking them.