HT is a prescription treatment for common menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and vaginal dryness. These symptoms happen because hormone levels (mainly estrogen and progesterone) drop as women approach menopause. HT works by giving these hormones back to the body, which is why it’s also known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT). People with a uterus are given a combination of estrogen and progesterone because progesterone helps protect against uterine cancer. People who have had a hysterectomy (uterus removal) can use estrogen-only HT. HT is also prescribed to prevent osteoporosis, a condition that causes bones to become weak and brittle. Because estrogen helps protect bones, menopausal women are more likely to develop osteoporosis.