Activists warn that thousands of British women suffer from insomnia, painful intercourse and life-threatening psychological symptoms due to the ongoing failure of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
The problems first arose in April, when pharmacy regulators ordered chemists to restrict sales of hormone replacement therapy gels containing the female sex hormone estrogen. This move allowed pharmacists to offer alternatives where possible without having to contact the patient’s GP, but limited them to supplying no more than three months.
While the directive will remain in effect until the end of October, the government announced earlier this month that it would terminate the task force responsible for addressing the lack of hormone replacement therapy as the situation has “improved”.
Jo Bryant, 52, an executive from the Truro office in Cornwall, has been struggling to get hold of the Estradot HRT patch since July, which was applied to him. She says: ‘I felt a little relieved, but I was still feeling sick, so in August my doctor prescribed me a higher dose that I couldn’t take before, so I stayed with the longer dose, low. I only have a few weeks of patches left’
Activists warn that thousands of British women suffer from insomnia, painful sex and life-destroying mental health symptoms due to the ongoing lack of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
The group’s chairman, HRT “czar” Madelaine McTernan, returned in the fall to her previous role as chief executive of the Vaccine Task Force, where she oversaw the Covid recall program.
But The Mail on Sunday has heard of at least five other HRT products that are currently out of stock.
Dr. Leyla Hannbeck, CEO of the Independent Multiple Pharmacies Association, said: ‘This is very important right now. Pharmacists spend a lot of time on the phone every day organizing medication for their patients.
HRT Evorel 50, Evorel Sequi and Estradot patches are sold out. Dr. Hannbeck added that Sandrena gel, which has been on the missing list for the past three months, is “in the beginning” but is usually not yet available.
The fifth product that is said to suffer from “inconsistent supply” is Utrogestan, which contains the hormone progesterone.
A recent survey by menopause support group The Latte Lounge found that 36% of women still struggle to get treatments that work for them.
Last week, Labor MP Carolyn Harris, who chairs the all-party caucus on menopause, invited her Twitter followers to share their stories about the lack of hormone replacement therapy.
Dr. Leyla Hannbeck, CEO of the Independent Multiple Pharmacies Association, said: ‘This is very important right now. Pharmacists spend a lot of time on the phone every day organizing medications for their patients.
She said: “The stock shortage crisis is not over yet – I still hear from hundreds of desperate women. Some travel overseas where products are more freely available and can be purchased without a prescription, or travel 100 miles in rural areas to find a pharmacy with supplies.
“Women self-administer to keep their HRT because they can’t get their next prescription. Some have been waiting for months and there is still no sign of the product they need at the pharmacy.’
Dr. Hannbeck adds: “Most of the raw materials used to make medicine come from the Far East, so if you’ve experienced a blockade in China, or if you’re experiencing logistics or shipping issues or increased costs, this will affect how you get it. products, materials must be where they came from. be.’
Patients also described how common the problems were in this article.
Jo Bryant, 52, an executive from the Truro office in Cornwall, has been struggling to get hold of the Estradot HRT patch since July, which was applied to him. She says: ‘I felt a little relieved, but I was still feeling sick, so in August my doctor prescribed me a higher dose that I couldn’t take before, so I stayed with the longer dose, low. I only have a few weeks of patches left.
The divorcee, who lives with her 21-year-old daughter, added: “I am experiencing terrible brain fog and if I could have taken a higher dose it would have helped. I mix up my words which is so embarrassing and I can’t concentrate on my work.
“I always burst into tears, especially when the pharmacy said I didn’t have a patch.”
Hayley Lambarth, 57, a mother of two who lives near Lowestoft in Suffolk, has been using Estrado for four years. Earlier this year he is no longer available and was given an Estraderm patch that did not keep his “vicious” hot flashes at bay.
Another said he has not been able to get Estradot patches on the NHS since February. ‘I had to buy it from friends who went to Spain. This is completely unsustainable’
“We were promised that the shortages would end some time ago, but I still can’t get the product I feel good about,” she says.
Curtain maker Kara Williams, 54, from Alresford, Hampshire, says she needs to keep replacing HSTs. “Every time I change my treatment, it takes about three weeks for my body to get used to it, and old aches and symptoms – hot flashes, insomnia, and joint pain like pins in the bones – start coming back. “
I will take Sandrena for another month and then go to all pharmacies again. I am afraid of him.
Many women wrote about similar stress on social media. It is said to be “rewarding” not being able to buy a stake in Estradot. “I committed suicide before I got it, and I can’t imagine what will happen next time I don’t have groceries,” she adds. He also suffers from vaginal atrophy, where the vaginal wall can become thin and dry due to a lack of estrogen and sex can be uncomfortable.
Other women were sprayed with special medicine. Someone said: ‘I haven’t had Lenzetto from my own pharmacy for five months, so I paid for it’ [at £25 a month] from the specific application. I don’t know how they will take it when my usual prescription cannot be met.’
Another said he has not been able to get Estradot patches on the NHS since February. ‘I had to buy it from friends who went to Spain. This is completely unsustainable.
Carolyn Harris once admitted that she “nearly put my car in front of a truck” during menopause, noting that the average age of menopausal women is 51, while the risk of suicide is highest in women aged 50 to 50. 54 is located. Now she plans to bring evidence of the ongoing famine to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Source: Daily Mail
Errol Villanueva is an author and lifestyle journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a passion for exploring the latest trends in fashion, food, travel, and wellness, Errol’s articles are a must-read for anyone interested in living a stylish and fulfilling life.
