Yes to all of this. I also begged, although my gyn was up on the latest research she still was reluctant to prescribe because my period hadn't (hasn't?) fully stopped - though it's definitely wandering around doing it's own thing at this point.

It was actually a NY Times piece that drove me to my doctor. It was in the Times Magazine as a long read back in February. The pieces is amazing and really got rid of my fear about HRT. It's titled, "Women Have Been Misled about Menopause" https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/01/magazine/menopause-hot-flashes-hormone-therapy.html