Question: Hello. I am a 49 year old woman who had a hysterectomy (keeping my ovaries, removing my cervix) at age 47, in may 2011 due to hemorrhagging. The hemorrahagging began in March 2011, resulted in a hemoglobin of 4, a blood transfusion, and led to an emergency DNC on march 24. As it turned out, I had stage 0 endometrial cancer after biopsy. I have a history of both breast cysts and breast hyperplasia... I also had PCOS. In march of 2012, I had an emergency oophorectomy dude to ovarian torsion in one ovary. I opted to remove both the affected and non- affected ovary. I began having many adverse symptoms shortly after. Depression, weight gain, severe hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety, extreme memory loss, dizziness, water retention, especially in face and hands, ringing in ears, breast enlargement and tenderness, extreme fatigue, insomnia etc... My doctor prescribed 20 mg of citalopram and the lowest dose of the vivelle bio-identical estradiol patch. My symptoms did not subside, but seemed to worsen. She continued to prescribe higher doses of the vivelle patch with each follow up and I am now on the highest dose 1.0. one year ago I was diagnosed with hashimotos autoimmune disease, presenting as hypo-thyroid, (which also presents with many of the symptoms I am experiencing, with the exception of hot flashes, sweating and sensitivity to heat). I am currently taking armour thyroid replacement 60 mg, after not improving on a synthroid and cytomel regimen. I continue to suffer from all of the above mentioned symptoms. I have been researching my conditions, and have found books and articles which have led me to adopt a gluten free diet. I have also read several books and articles which recommend adding bio identical topical (not oral) progesterone (not progestin) to my current estrgen only HRT, and just as many that recommend estrogen only HRT after a hysterectomy. There is a lot of conflicting advice and information about the risks vs benefits of HRT in a woman without a uterus. The variables appear to be age, bio-identical vs non bio-identical, length of use, method of administration, medical history of heart, stroke, breast etc... It also seems that the larger studies conducted did not study all of these variables, but only some of them. So, MY QUESTION IS: which , if any , HRT is the best and safest protocol for me, taking into consideration my symptoms and risk percentages. **A footnote: according to annecdotal research, citalopram causes rapid weight gain, an inability to lose weight even through diet and exercise, and hot flashes/ incrased sweating in a large percentage of users. Of course, hypo-thyroiditus also causes weight gain and an inability to lose weight. I would appreciate any comments or advice. Thank you.