Women in the UK are experiencing renewed shortages of specific hormone replacement therapy products used to manage menopause symptoms. The Department of Health and Social Care issued a supply notification this week indicating that FemSeven Conti patches are currently out of stock and expected to remain unavailable until late November, while various Estradot patches face shortages extending through January.
According to the NHS Business Services Authority, approximately 2 million women aged 40 and above in England received HRT prescriptions during 2025-26. FemSeven Conti contains estradiol and levonorgestrel, while Estradot products contain estradiol. Supply disruptions for some HRT medicines began as far back as December 2024, with Estradot shortages representing a particularly persistent issue affecting the UK market.
Healthcare professionals have indicated that alternative products are available for affected patients. Suitable substitutes for FemSeven Conti include Evorel Conti, Estradot Conti 30/95, and Estradot Conti 40/130, which contain estradiol paired with a different synthetic progestogen called norethisterone and require twice-weekly application rather than weekly dosing. For Estradot shortages, alternatives such as Estraderm MX and Evorel patches containing estradiol are listed in serious shortage protocols.
Experts advise patients experiencing disruption to their usual HRT regimen to consult their healthcare clinician rather than extending patch application duration, dividing patches, or using treatments borrowed from others. A consultant in sexual and reproductive health indicated that maintaining consistent estradiol dosage through alternative patch delivery methods should not negatively affect symptom control.
Looking ahead, industry representatives have called for government intervention, urging the creation of a dedicated taskforce to address supply chain challenges comprehensively. Shortages are anticipated to recur in the future, as HRT usage has been increasing by more than 10% annually.
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