Almost 11 million menopause prescriptions were issued last year – after a Daily Mail campaign called for better access to treatments.
According to official figures, there was a 47 percent increase in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) prescriptions compared to 2021-2022.
HRT helps menopausal women who experience symptoms such as depression, hot flashes, anxiety and difficulty sleeping.
The increase follows an unprecedented rise in prescriptions in recent years, partly due to the “Davina effect”.
TV personality Davina McCall has released a series of documentaries on menopause, which, along with the efforts of activists, has led to a huge increase in awareness.
TV personality Davina McCall has raised awareness of the issue through a series of documentaries on menopause
The nationwide shortage of HRT also led to an email campaign launched last year calling for more women to be educated about symptoms and treatment options.
Less than a month after the campaign began, the government made it easier for pharmacists to exchange HRT treatments when certain medications were out of stock. In a ground-breaking first in the UK, HRT treatment has also become available over the counter and a scheme which saves menopausal women more than £200 a year went live earlier this year.
The new figures, published in a report by the NHS Business Services Authority, also show that an estimated 2.3 million identifiable patients were prescribed HRT medication in 2022-2023 – an increase of 29 per cent on the previous year – with women aged 50 to 54 years were the most commonly affected group of patients.
The report also highlighted that more than twice as many patients were prescribed HRT medication in the least deprived areas as in the most deprived areas.
A chart showing how hormone replacement therapy (HRT) prescriptions have soared since 2015
Menopause campaigner Diane Danzebrink said: “It’s disappointing to see the disparity. It clearly shows the need for a national campaign.”
Earlier this month, campaigners called for women over 40 to receive free menopausal health checks.
Cross-party MPs and colleagues have also called for the “discussion and diagnosis” of menopause to be included in an MOT for middle-aged women. The all-party group also said GPs should be encouraged to diagnose menopause.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Maria Caulfield said the government was considering adding menopause to the conditions GPs are assessed on.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
