If a woman suffers 30 yrs of hormonal/menstrual hell, why would she agree to take HRT?

these would be questions to ask your OB/GYN!
References :

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a system of medical treatment for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, based on the assumption that it may prevent discomfort and health problems caused by diminished circulating estrogen hormones. The treatment involves a series of drugs designed to artificially boost hormone levels. The main types of hormones involved are estrogens, progesterone or progestins, and sometimes testosterone.

HRT is also used by transgendered or transsexual people to aid them in attaining the secondary sex characteristics of their desired sex. See Hormone replacement therapy (trans). It is also given to some intersex people (depending on the precise intersex condition), either starting in childhood to confirm the gender they were assigned, or later, if this gender assignment has proven to be incorrect.

HRT is available in various forms. It generally provides low dosages of one or more estrogens, and often also provides either progesterone or a chemical analogue, called a progestin. Testosterone may also be included. In women who have had a hysterectomy an estrogen compound is usually given without any progesterone, a therapy referred to as unopposed estrogen therapy. HRT may be by patches, tablets, creams, gels or, more rarely, by injection. Dosage is often varied cyclically, with estrogens taken daily and progesterone or progestins taken for about two weeks every month or two; a method called sequentially combined HRT or scHRT. An alternate method, a constant dosage with both types of hormones taken daily, is called continuous combined HRT or ccHRT, and is a more recent innovation. Sometimes an androgen, generally testosterone, is added to help reduce osteoporosis and to treat reduced energy and sexual desire (libido) after menopause.

HRT is seen as either a short-term relief (often one or two years, usually less than five) from menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, irregular menstruation, fat redistribution etc.) or as a longer term treatment to reduce the risk of osteopenia leading to osteoporosis. Younger women with Premature ovarian failure or surgical menopause may use hormone replacement therapy for many years, until the age that natural menopause would be expected to occur.

Historically the most commonly prescribed forms of HRT has been proprietary mixtures. These combinations have been composed of equine estrogens rather than bio-identical human estrogens, and have favored the use of progestins, rather than the human form of progesterone. With the passage of time, an increasing number of studies have shown that certain risks are associated with these combinations of progestins and equine estrogens.

Apart from a few studies funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the overwhelming majority of research on hormone supplementation has been financed by manufacturers and has used their products combining progestins and equine estrogens. Bioidentical forms of human estrogen and progesterone have been very little studied. This distinction is important, because the adverse biological effects of xenoestrogens and progestins revealed by the studies do not necessarily generalize to supplementation with human forms of estrogen and progesterone. For example, a pilot study reported in JAMA. 2004;292:1581-1587, Vol. 292 No. 13, October 6, 2004 by Smith, Heckbert, et al. found clinical evidence that the adverse effects from oral conjugated equine estrogens were in fact not generalizable to the other estrogen compound tested in the same study. Conjugated equine estrogen, but not esterified estrogen, was associated with increased venous thrombotic risk. The study found that users of esterified estrogen had no increase in venous thrombotic risk, in sharp contrast to the users of equine estrogens. Nonetheless, it seems likely that the route of administration may be more important than the type of estrogen administered. For example, in a large study published in the Lancet Scarabin et al. compared effects of oral vs. transdermal (skin patch) estrogen (mainly estradiol-17 beta, the "bioidentical" human estrogen) and found that the oral route was associated with a 3-fold increase in risk of venous clotting disease (thrombophlebitis, pulmonary embolus), whereas the skin patch produced no excess risk.

Studies finding adverse health effects of equine estrogens and progestins have often been reported, inaccurately, as revealing effects of "estrogen" and "progesterone." It is important to keep this habitual inaccuracy in mind in reviewing press reports. The overwhelming majority of studies which have found adverse health effects were studies of equine estrogens and progestins which have nonetheless been uncritically reported in the media as studies of estrogen or progesterone in general. On the other hand, creams, gels, etc. containing "biodentical" hormones custom-prepared by compounding pharmacies are not subject to FDA monitoring or regulation, so that doses delivered and hormone blood levels produced are unpredictable and may be highly variable.

It has become increasingly clear that oral progestin and equine estrogen pills can increase a number of risks, including the risks of exacerbation of existing liver or gallbladder problems and of dangerous blood clots. Long term use of equine estrogens probably also increases the risk of breast cancer. In women with a uterus, therapy with equine estrogen, unopposed by progesterone, is generally acknowledged to increase the risk of uterine cancers in women with intact uterine linings. This proprietary combination can also affect blood triglyceride levels and increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular events. Although HRT with progestins and equine estrogens was once widely thought to promote cadiovascular health in women, on February 4, 2004, the American Heart Association released guidelines stating that it should no longer be considered as an agent to increase heart health or to decrease the chances of cardiovascular disease.

In 2006, results from the large ongoing observational Nurses' study showed that those taking a pill containing a combination of estrogen with methyltestosterone (a synthetic testosterone analogue) had higher risk of breast cancer than those not taking the methyltestosterone. Unfortunately, few or no studies have tested the safety or benefits of human bioidentical testosterone, or of low-dose non-pill administration of testosterone that avoids the first pass through the liver.

Due to the risks and potential problems of progestins and equine estrogens, a number of alternative therapies have been developed, including lifestyle changes, non-hormone drug therapy, and bioidentical hormone replacement. To reduce the risk of osteoporosis without hormones, dietary changes that increase calcium uptake, exercise, and drugs such as biphosphates, selective estrogen receptor modulators or calcitonin have been tried. As the risks of equine estrogens and progestins have become more evident, interest has intensified in the use of HRT formulated to contain the three main naturally occurring human estrogens estradiol, estrone and estriol, as well as bioidentical human progesterone and sometimes testosterone. This method of HRT is often called bioidentical hormone replacement therapy(BHRT). BHRT is often delivered via topical administration of a cream or gel solution of the hormones to the skin, reducing concerns about adverse liver effects of oral medications.
References :

Let me tell you, I couldn't get hold of HRT soon enough. My life was hell and within a few days of treatment the improvement was phenomenal.
I am aware of the risks but am not going back th the wreck I was before.
We all have to make our own choices, but for me it has worked and I'm happy with that.
I know many women have hell at this time in their lives, but if relief can be found then go for it is what I would say.

Try here http://www.menopausematters.co.uk
References :

menopause is a time when your hormones are all over the place hot flushes palpitations etc hrt can be very good for suppressing or controlling these symptoms, and afterwards life is a lot calmer
References :

I am 25 and after having a hysterectomy last year am on HRT. If you take HRT it gives you an even dose of hormones so you are always on a level and you will feel much better. You get the mood swings etc when your hormones are all over the place and uncontrolled. If you are under 45 I would say it is a good idea to take it, it lowers the risk of weak bones, premature aging etc
It is not a gynaecologist you need to see regards your hormone levels its an ENDOCRINE specialist. Ask your GP to refer you.
If you get your hormone levels checked and get the best advise for you personally you will feel much better xxx
References :

HRT takes away all those problems, you can live again be care free
References :

I'm just recovering from the after effects of HRT, not good for every woman,it caused me water retention, weight gain and high blood pressure. It did not improve my emotional life, no changes there,I still get anxiety attacks, anger and depression. Don't agree to take HRT until you are satisfied you have read about alternatives, the homeopathic ones, and discussed it with a well womens clinic. I am not going to bother with any of it, trying out vitamin supplements, nothing settled yet though.
References :