Thank-you all for raising this important issue, and for your ongoing support of our forum.
This was a statement sent out from Menopause Matters this week about the current HRT supply situation.
HRT Supply Issues
In light of the current media attention around HRT supply issues Menopause Matters' own Dr Currie MBE has issued our view on the current position, which we hope will be helpful to our readers:
"As more women and healthcare professionals are aware that HRT is the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms and are recognising that for many women, the benefits outweigh any risks, prescriptions are increasing, such that currently supply is outstripping demand. This is understandably causing much distress but is hoped to be a short term problem. See statement below from the British Menopause Society, with links to useful resources.
"The British Menopause Society has issued an update on HRT supply to provide guidance to BMS members and clinical practitioners on the current availability of HRT Products.
"Besins Healthcare (UK) Ltd has advised that it has experienced exceptionally high demand for Oestrogel over recent months and this has resulted in shortages of availability. Besins expects this to be a short-term issue and anticipates that supplies will be available to local wholesaler branches soon.
"The BMS advises women who are experiencing difficulty in obtaining Oestrogel to consider equivalent alternative HRT preparations. This could include Sandrena gel (0.5mg or 1mg) or Lenzetto spray preparations.
"Prescribers should consider using equivalent preparations to those that their patients are currently using. If an exact match is not possible, prescribers can seek guidance available on the BMS website to clarify equivalent doses."
Read BMS Update on HRT Supply in full...
https://thebms.org.uk/news/british-menopause-society-update-on-hrt-supply/Read more about equivalent preparations...
https://thebms.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/15-BMS-TfC-HRT-preparations-and-equivalent-alternatives-01D.pdfRead more about HRT types, doses and regimens
https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/hrt-types-doses-and-regimens/You can also visit the Menopause Matters Decision Tree
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/tree.phpMenopause Matters and The British Menopause Society, which I work very closely with being a trustee and past Chair, are fully supportive of appointment of an HRT tsar and look forward to working closely with her to resolve the situation.
I hope that this is helpful and provides some reassurance that much work is underway.
Best wishes all
Heather