Jaki T, sorry for the belated reply. Yes, you do have to get oestrogen gel from your doctor but if they refuse, you can get it online.
I have been round the block on this and can tell you that the gel has worked the best for me by far. It is bio identical and works best when unopposed by progesterone. However, if you still have a womb, you must take progesterone for either 7 days per month or for 20 days every three months. I am severely intolerant to artificial progesterone (I never had a problem with the progesterone I produced myself, only the artificial stuff) so I have to limit the use to the barest minimum but there is no reason why you should have the same problem. Most doctors recommend using Utrogestan for the progesterone part.
All the bad press regarding HRT was from the old stuff they churned out years ago which was mainly oral, not much good and too high in progesterone. The newest bio identical HRT is a different kettle of fish altogether and does not carry the breast cancer risks - it is the progesterone side of HRT that causes all the problems so that is why its use must limited.
Hope that helps.