Hormone replacement therapy. Hands of a patient dispense Hormone Replacement Therapy pills from a circular dispenser. HRT pills are synthetic hormones used to treat menopausal women. They counteract the hormone deficiency that occurs at menopause. These pills are called Trisequens and contain the hormones oestradiol, oestriol and norethisterone acetate. HRT helps to prevent osteoporosis, atherosclerosis and atrophic vaginitis (where the vagina becomes thin and dry). Pills are taken daily on a monthly basis to coincide with the menstrual cycle. Adverse effects include nausea, tenderness of the breasts, fluid retention and leg cramps.