Hi Lovebug. It's not better or worse to use hrt. Every women is different and will experience the menopause differently. Some sail through with few problems but roughly 60% of women struggle with symptoms and hrt can really help. If meno symptoms are reducing quality of life then it's well worth trying hrt. Nobody can tell You how long symptoms will last and some find they never stop. The damage that oestrogen deficiency does continues even when flushes subside and studies show that 5 years of hrt in our 50s will actually protect our bones and heart for the long term.
Provided you don't have health issues that prevent you using HRT e.g. strong family history of breast cancer, being very over weight or a smoker, then the benefits of hrt for a few years far outweighs any risks. DG x