Women in the UK are experiencing renewed shortages of specific hormone replacement therapy products used to manage menopause symptoms. According to a medicine supply notification from the Department of Health and Social Care issued this week, FemSeven Conti patches are currently out of stock and expected to remain unavailable until late November. Additionally, various Estradot patches, which contain estradiol, face supply disruptions not expected to resolve until January. These shortages are not unprecedented; the NHS Business Services Authority indicates that supply issues affecting some products began in December 2024.
Hormone replacement therapy encompasses various delivery methods including gels, sprays, patches, pills, creams, and intrauterine systems. The treatment typically involves two hormones—oestrogen and progestogen—to replace levels lost during menopause, though women who have undergone hysterectomy require only oestrogen-containing formulations. Data from the NHS Business Services Authority shows that almost 2 million women in England aged 40 and above received HRT prescriptions for menopause symptoms during 2025-26.
Medical professionals and pharmacy representatives have expressed concern about the ongoing shortages. Sehar Shahid, a member of the National Pharmacy Association’s board, noted that shortages of Estradot represent the second longest running individual medicine shortage in the UK and emphasized that certain HRT products are specialized and cannot always be easily substituted.
Alternatives are available for affected patients. For FemSeven Conti, substitute patches include Evorel Conti, Estradot Conti 30/95, and Estradot Conti 40/130, which contain estradiol paired with a different synthetic progestogen and require twice-weekly rather than weekly application. Paula Briggs, a consultant in sexual and reproductive health and former chair of the British Menopause Society, noted that maintaining the same estradiol dose is the critical factor. Healthcare officials recommend that affected women consult their clinicians rather than extending patch use, altering patches, or sharing medications.
Experts anticipate future shortages given rising demand. Briggs indicated that use of HRT has increased more than 10% year on year. Shahid called for government action, urging the new secretary of state to establish a taskforce addressing supply chain issues comprehensively.
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