The onset of menopause is horrible for a woman in her 50's. It had to be brutal for you at such a young age. Mine kicked in at 51, and it was unbearable. The hot flashes and night sweats were awful. The lack of sleep was ruining my life, so I, too, started HRT. I took low doses of estrogen and progesterone for over 10 years. Once my husband and I became full-time Rvers, doctor appointments became a major pain in the backside. I made the decision to wean myself off of my meds, thinking at 64, I would be past the nasty symptoms. WRONG! My night sweats and hot flashes have returned. My libido had long disappeared, so there was no change there. I'm attempting natural remedies. I will see how it goes. God bless you for sharing your journey. ❤️