This week, a timely and crucial blog from Dr Yakup Kilic about the impact that a shortage of HRT (hormone-replacement therapy) is having on women in the UK.
What?
The menopause is a natural stage in a woman’s life when her monthly period stops. Menopause is far more than just hot flushes, as commonly thought and portrayed to be. Many women describe difficulty sleeping, brain fog, weight gain, dry skin and other hormonal issues. Menopausal symptoms can have debilitating effects on a woman’s quality of life.
Recent figures suggest 44% of women experiencing symptoms of menopause have said their ability to work had been affected. This will adversely affect their personal and work lives, and by extension, society as a whole. We know that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is effective at alleviating menopausal symptoms. However, only 14% of menopausal women are currently taking it in the UK1.
During menopause women usually have low levels of oestrogen in their body. HRT boosts oestrogen levels to help alleviate some menopausal symptoms. HRT can come in many forms, but there is currently a shortage of many of these in the UK. This is causing many women to suffer from symptoms without adequate respite, in what many are calling an HRT crisis.
Why?
For too long – and for too many women – the symptoms of menopause have simply been brushed aside as being part of the natural course of aging. The simple fact, however, is that menopausal symptoms can often be highly debilitating – and HRT is proven to be safe and effective at reducing these negative symptoms. All women should have access to this important treatment. A number of TV and radio documentaries have highlighted this issue, in turn spurring increased demand for these medical therapies.
According to Dr Clare Spencer of My Menopause Centre, increased media coverage of the menopause has ironically been one of the primary factors in creating HRT shortages. In other words, increased patient awareness and prolonged time to prescription from clinicians has now created a situation where supply is unable to keep up with demand. These issues are confounded by COVID-related production and logistic delays, in addition to pre-existing supply issues of HRT.
Health secretary Sajid Javid has commented on the issue, saying that he wants to reassure women about their concerns and will not hesitate to take decisive action to ensure access to HRT2.
How (does it affect you?)
If you are currently a patient who requires HRT, this news could impact your treatment. It is your right to request HRT from your GP, and an appointment should be made if this is the case. There may be an interruption or delay to your supply, but this impact will hopefully be lessened by government intervention. The government has outlined a number of strategies to tackle shortages:
- A cap limiting patients to three month’s supply at a time
- Affected HRT medications are: Oestrogel, Ovestin and Premique low dose
- Bodies such as the Royal College of GPs to help pharmacists and prescribers respond to demand
- Liaising with suppliers to increase production
- Create real time access to pharmacy dispensing data
A drug which is a lifeline for many patients with menopausal symptoms is unfortunately not immune from the NHS postcode lottery. Depending on where you live, you could be offered a type of HRT that may or may not work for you, due to availability of these drugs. Madelaine McTernan, the newly appointed governmental HRT tsar, has promised to increase the availability of most types of HRT medication to help combat this issue3.
Speak to your GP to enquire about what HRT products are available locally. You may also wish to request a referral to a women’s health specialist for a more tailored approach to your symptoms.
If you are currently experiencing menopausal symptoms, have a read of myHSN’s top tips for the menopause, where we share useful insights and strategies on how best to empower yourself at this stage of your life.
As always, best wishes from myHSN!