I, too, had an easy menopause and got through it on evening primrose oil and dong quai alone. The menopause nurse at our health centre was on board with this, and said if it didn't work to come back, but all was well. But we are all different, and react differently to different things. All you can do is give it a whirl, and remember, there are different sorts of HRT, not just one-size-fits-all. Worth reminding whoever is prescribing for you of your early history of not getting on with hormonal contraception (nor did I, although I was sort-of all right on the mini-pill).