Women in the UK are experiencing fresh disruptions to hormone replacement therapy supply, with specific formulations currently unavailable through normal pharmaceutical channels. According to a Department of Health and Social Care notification released this week, FemSeven Conti patches remain out of stock with replenishment not anticipated until late November. Additionally, various Estradot patch formulations are experiencing supply constraints that are not expected to resolve until January.
HRT, a treatment widely used to manage menopause symptoms, typically combines oestrogen and progestogen hormones to replace those lost during the menopausal transition. Data from the NHS Business Services Authority indicates that approximately 2 million women aged 40 and above in England received HRT prescriptions for menopause management during 2025-26. Experts note that supply accessibility has remained inconsistent, with shortage episodes recurring over time. The current Estradot shortages represent a continuation of supply issues that began in December 2024 and have persisted as one of the UK’s longest-running individual medicine supply disruptions.
Health professionals and pharmacy representatives have expressed concern about the disruptions. Specialists note that certain HRT formulations are specialized products without straightforward substitutes. However, viable alternative options exist for patients affected by current shortages. For FemSeven Conti, recommended alternatives include Evorel Conti and specific Estradot Conti formulations, which contain the same oestrogen component but utilize a different synthetic progestogen administered on an alternative schedule. For Estradot shortages, additional alternatives include estradiol-containing patches such as Estraderm MX and Evorel products.
Clinicians advise patients experiencing disruption to their usual HRT regimen to consult with their healthcare provider about alternatives. Pharmacy professionals caution against extending patch application periods beyond prescribed duration, subdividing patches, or sharing medications with others. Looking forward, supply experts suggest that increasing demand—with usage growing more than 10% year on year—may contribute to future shortage episodes. Healthcare officials are being urged to establish coordinated oversight mechanisms involving all participants in the pharmaceutical supply chain to address systemic vulnerabilities.
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