Otago Daily Times

Nationwide HRT shortage concerns

- ELEISHA FOON

AUCKLAND: An Auckland woman is desperatel­y worried that she — and others who rely on hormone replacemen­t therapy — will soon be without their usual supplies.

Tens of thousands of New Zealand women are on some form of hormonal replacemen­t treatment, known as HRT.

For more than 15 years, Julie (who only wants to be referred to by her first name) has been using HRT to battle ongoing symptoms of menopause — the stage in life where a woman stops having regular periods.

She had been told to cut the patches she uses in half, but was afraid the delicate balance of hormone treatment would be altered to inefficien­t levels.

After following up with her pharmacy, Julie discovered her 25mcg dose of Estradot patches and the 50mcg patches were almost out of supply, and she was advised to cut her patches in half to balance her levels.

‘‘If I have to now start mucking around with new formulas and new doses, it could take ages. I’m going to turn into an absolute nightmare overnight . . . be hot and sweaty and just the hormone levels would just fluctuate and I’ve managed to keep them even for years. It is really bad — just terrible.’’

She was frustrated and ‘‘had a big ring around’’ to see if there was more HRT supply across Auckland city.

She was told that ‘‘no, there is nothing in the country and it is a big problem’’, she said.

Global shortage of the hormone estradiol is also causing a shortage of some contracept­ives.

Earlier this month, thousands of women were forced to change oral contracept­ives because supplies of some pill brands ran out, including Brevinor, Brevinor 1/28, Norimin and Necon.

The pharmaceut­ical company Pfizer did not expect them to be back in stock until midFebruar­y.

Pharmac has now confirmed the delays of HRT prescripti­ons were due to the pandemic.

In a statement, Pharmac director of operations Lisa Williams said, ‘‘The supplier of our funded oestradiol patches (brand name Estradot), Novartis, has advised Pharmac that, due to Covid19 related delays, they don’t expect to have Estradot patches back in stock until December.

‘‘To ensure patients can continue treatment with hormone replacemen­t therapy we are funding some alternativ­e brands.’’

Seventyfiv­e percent of menopausal women suffer a variety of symptoms including night sweats, poor sleep, vaginal dryness, itchy skin, mood swings, changes in mood, anxiety, depression, poor memory and weight gain.

HRT helps about 95% of women with these symptoms.

College of General Practition­ers president Samantha Murton said the shortage was also affecting New Zealand’s transgende­r population.

‘‘I have a very small number of people who are the transgende­r population using HRT. When there is a shortage of supply or we have to change things, it can be quite disturbing for a lot of people and will also have quite a significan­t impact on their life.’’

Julie was concerned that if her HRT supply ran out she could run the risk of facing major depression and experience other tough symptoms.

Dr Murton said widespread delays for some medication were a costly reality for doctors, patients and pharmacist­s, which would only worsen in the months to come.

‘‘It is difficult all around, not just for patients but also doctors, too, having to write alternativ­e prescripti­ons. It is costly and tricky for a lot of people.’’ — RNZ

❛ I’m going to turn

into an absolute nightmare overnight

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