Urinary tract infections are becoming more common as HRT resources are limited –

A women’s health doctor said the lack of HRT has led to an increase in urinary tract infections and arthritis flare-ups.

Nearly one million women take HRT in patches, pills or gels to replace the hormone estrogen lost during menopause.

But tens of thousands of people currently do not have access to medication, specifically a gel called Estrogel.

Although HRT is often prescribed to relieve menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal discomfort, it also provides protection against other conditions.

Although HRT is often prescribed to relieve menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal discomfort, it also provides protection against other conditions.

Estrogen helps protect tissues from bacteria in the urine, and falling levels can lead to painful urinary tract infections. Estrogen also protects the joints, and without it, arthritis can occur.

The government is now rationing Estrogel to ensure women are not completely off the product, and last week, newly appointed HRT Czar Madelaine McTernan met with pharmaceutical company leaders to secure a supply of alternatives.

But according to Dr Cat Anderson, a Staffordshire-based GP and doctor at the London UTI Clinic, women are already grappling with the lack of access to regular hormone replacement therapy. “In the last month we have seen about ten percent more patients with urinary tract infections as a direct result of deficiency.

And it’s not just women who have suffered with them before. At my doctor’s office, I see women who were unable to get HRT and now have urinary tract infections, even though they’ve never had a problem before.

These infections occur in the bladder, kidneys, and the tubes that connect them, and cause an extreme burning sensation when urinating.

Dr. “I’ve also seen women with very severe arthritis flare-ups who have had the condition under control since they started HRT. Not to mention a host of other conditions like migraines and depression,” Anderson says.

Carolyn Andrew, director of the chronic urinary tract infections campaign, says the lack of hormone replacement therapy is a concern for many postmenopausal women suffering from the infection.

“The deficiency creates an environment in which many women who have had chronic urinary tract infections before are at risk of coming back.”

“If this problem is not resolved soon, the problem will only get worse.”