Women will only be able to get a common hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for two months at a time under new measures brought in by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Ad-hoc shortages of various HRT have been reported by women to local Healthwatch over the past few years as suppliers try and keep up demand in the wake of increased awareness of symptoms experienced by women in the lead up to, and during, menopause.
Now the DHSC has confirmed that supply problems with micronised progesterone, under the brand name Utrogestan 100mg capsules, are expected to last into late 2023. On 20 May, it told pharmacies to limit dispensing of Utrogestan to only two months’ supply at a time per woman.
Usually, once women are settled on an HRT regime, GPs issue repeat prescriptions every three or more months, but the new limit “will ensure more women can continue to access the medication they need”, the DHSC said.
The restriction is enacted by what is known as a ‘serious shortage protocol’.
We’d urge you to keep sharing with us any evidence you have on access to HRT and women’s health services, so we can flag up any widespread problems to the DHSC, especially as it has made women’s health a priority in a strategy launched last summer.
