What the HRT Shortage Means for Women Experiencing Menopause
Since early this year, the United Kingdom has been suffering from a severe shortage of the most popular and effective hormone replacement therapy (HRT) prescriptions. The lack of supplies from the HRT shortage of 2022 has reached a point of national crisis.
Women who need the medication to combat menopause symptoms suddenly don’t have access. These ladies rely on their prescriptions to help them sleep, reduce hot flashes, and decrease their likelihood of depression and anxiety, among many things.
Why Is There a Shortage of HRT Patches?
But why is there a shortage of HRT patches, ointments, and pills? The answer might not be what you expect. Over the last several years, increased awareness of the often-debilitating symptoms has encouraged women to seek treatment and doctors to offer it. In fact, HRT prescriptions have more than doubled in the U.K. within the last five years.
On top of that, factory shutdowns and supply chain issues from the pandemic further slowed the production of HRT products.
What Could the Shortage Mean for Women?
The HRT shortage of 2022 has already resulted in many foreseen and unforeseen outcomes. What could be in store for you or your loved ones if it continues?
1. Longer Wait Times
The most obvious result of the HRT shortage is longer wait times for your prescription medication. You may need to travel to a different pharmacy or accept getting waitlisted until a new batch of your prescription comes in.
2. Prescription Replacements
HRT covers a broad range of pills, creams, gels, and patches. Out of the nearly 70 prescription options, only around 10 are suffering the worst shortages. As such, your pharmacist may substitute your current prescription for something similar. While it may not be as effective as what you’re taking now, it might be better than nothing.
3. Rise of Alternative Treatments
Rather than wait or be subject to ever-changing availability, more women are turning to alternative treatments for menopause symptoms. Lifestyle changes and bio-identical hormone replacement are successful to some degree and much more natural.
Other medications that may make a difference are antidepressants, tibolone, and clonidine. Again, the relief they provide is generally limited versus HRT prescriptions.
4. Dangerous Medical Practices
Some women are so desperate to maintain their current hormone therapy that they’re turning to unsafe medical practices. Prescription rationing by changing the dosage is becoming fairly common. However, your body will react differently to varying amounts of hormones.
Increasingly in danger are the women turning to the black market for their needs. They end up paying a higher price than usual and, unfortunately, there’s no guarantee they’re getting the real thing. These women risk withdrawal or side effects from taking the wrong medication or placebo. They are also in jeopardy of being caught by authorities and serving jail time or owing hefty fines.
5. Difficulty With Daily Life
Menopause symptoms can be challenging and make daily activities – like holding down a job, maintaining relationships, and staying physically active – quite difficult. Without access to HRT, women may withdraw from their medication and increase their risk of mood changes and disorders, hot flashes, certain medical conditions, and sleeping problems.
6. Postponement of Prescription Cost Cuts
In October 2021, the U.K. government released plans to lower the price of HRT prescriptions. However, the national shortages have delayed that action. Officials are now pushing the initiative to 2023. For now, HRT medications remain at their current price.
7. Stronger Bonds
One positive outcome of the shortage is a strengthening of bonds between women as a whole. More women are coming forward with their experience with menopause, normalizing the symptoms. Education on the topic is growing as well. In addition, women of all ages are reaching out to their neighbors to support one another through this difficult period.
A Waiting Game
For now, women throughout the U.K. are waiting for the HRT shortage of 2022 to end. Government employees are working hard to ensure every woman can get access to these essential medicines as soon as possible. In the meantime, ladies experiencing severe menopausal symptoms can talk to their doctor or therapist for alternative treatment methods. Hopefully, by the new year, this scare will be a thing of the past.
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Beth, the Managing Editor and content manager at Body+Mind, is well-respected in the mental health, nutrition and fitness spaces. In her spare time, Beth enjoys cooking and going for runs with her dog.
