I haven't had a period in 2 years and am clinically "on the other side" according to my hormone levels. My answer quite emphatically is, "no, not without something". In my case, non of the otc products worked, so I ended up with bio-identical hormones and that has relieved all of my symptoms. I feel so much better, you can't imagine the difference. I did a lot of research before I decided to go on these and feel that it is a very personal decision. But, I was at my wits end - hadn't slept through the night in over 5 years - woke up with night sweats 2-3 times every night. Hot flashes no less than 50 times per day. I would get hot flashes trying to wash the pots and pans - make the bed. I found it to be quite debilitating.

I know women who've been through for 10 years or more and say that they still suffer. I am not willing to spend my life in that much discomfort, pain and agony. Good luck.

I had all of my parts removed in August of 2009.. I had heard so much about surgical menopause being worse than natural menopause... I was frightened to say the least! I had some mild hot flashes in the first few months but other than that I haven't encountered anything too scary. I have noticed I am much more energetic and "hyper" as in I have strange urges to do tasks around the house and I actually do them!! I have noticed I "obsess" about things a bit more... for example .. my son needed a certain shade of copy paper a couple of weeks ago.. I went to 3 stores until I found what I was looking for... I considered it a personal mission... lol... menopause has given me a surge of "stick-to -it -ivness' that I didn't havebefore.

I don't know if this will help anyone... but I noticed if I had a bad or negative thought... or a worry.. that is what would bring on a hotflash for me.. so maybe it has something to do with personality or stress level?? who knows.. just a thought

A friend of mine had ovarian failure after her last baby. she went thru menopause in her mid 30's. She said she had all the hideous symptoms of menopause at the time, but the doctors didn't even consider menopause because of her age. She went thru about 10 years of hell before someone finally realized what it was.

She swears it does get better. However I have always considered her situation different from mine, so don't know if it would be like comparing apples to oranges.

I am currently 55 and still having semi regular periods (about every 3 months except for my last 2 periods were 2 weeks apart . . . go figure)

The hardest part for me has been the aches and pains that just came on suddenly. I have been checked for all the usual maladies with everything normal. I have been told it is fibromyalgia.

One odd thing I noticed recently. I have been drinking 1 or 2 cups a day of soy milk for years (dairy milk hurts my tummy). I stopped drinking the soy for about 2-3 weeks and the aches got waaaay worse. So I started drinking the soy again and the aches aren't gone, but they are way less severe! This is also the time frame that I had 2 periods 2 weeks apart.

So I am wondering if the aches are hormone related, and hopefully the aches will lessen or go away as my hormonal storm dries up and goes away.

I woke up with severe ringing ears in June of 2009 and was feeling pretty weird all summer. I had my last period in June as well. FInally after going to doctors I had my hormones tested. I was postmenopausal which now explains a lot of what I was going through. I tried going on nothing. 2010 it seemed my ringing ears was the biggest thing I dealt with and it was bad but in 2011 my symptoms increased to hot flushes, insomnia, awwwwful mood swings, irritability, stress, anxiety, skin changes, incontinence. I was in agony and chose HRT which relieved most of my symptoms. My doc says 2-5 yrs on avg. for symptoms to die down but many go through for years with symptoms so it's hard to pinpoint. Our bodies are all different. Our bodies will manufacture estrogen from other places once our ovaries quit producing it but it takes time. HRT suppresses your bodys own natural ability to develop its own estrogen because it is getting its hormones in pill form so it actually slows production of its own hormone making ability so when you stop HRT your symtpoms can actually get worse than before you went on HRT because your body has to start producing its own alternative estrogen, which it will do, but it takes time. So there are advantages/disadvantages to hormones. I dont like taking them, but, Im in hell if I dont and cant stand myself so Im on them...for now. Not many choices out there for relief for me that have worked but this but I am assured it does get better. My mom went through it and she says it gets better. It doesnt help (on a funny note) being in a large family of 6 girls and 2 boys and 4 of us being in some form of menopause! Sheesh!! LOL

Oh, I'm so relieved to hear people talking about hormones, and what they do to you. I just started having severe problems, especially with mood swings, irritability, hot flashes, and ringing in my ears. I said I'd never go on HRT but it got so bad I was hating myself, so I did. I am also bi-polar which doesn't make things any better!!! I'm not able to take alot of natural products because of my other med. Any reassurance or help would be appreciated, relieved I'm not alone.