HRT, or hormone replacement therapy, is a treatment used to relieve symptoms of menopause in women. It replaces the hormones that are no longer being produced by the ovaries. There are two types of HRT: systemic and local. Systemic HRT involves taking pills, patches, or gels that contain estrogen and progestin. Local HRT uses lower doses of estrogen and is applied directly to the vagina in the form of a cream, ring, or tablet.
HRT was first introduced in the 1930s and was originally made from horse urine. However, today's HRT products are synthetic and do not contain any horse urine. While there is some debate about the safety of HRT, it is generally considered to be safe when used as directed by a healthcare professional.