HRT shortage

It is almost impossible to get it in my area. I was using Evorel Sequi but that is now rarer than hens' teeth. I switched to Evorel 50 plus oral progesterone but now can't get those patches either. The GP just told me to keep looking but I have tried everywhere and found nothing. Initially I was told that the shortage would be over in October but when I did some googling yesterday I saw that they are now talking about summer 2020 at best. I have no idea what I am meant to do until then

I was switched in August to a different make of the same drug, and bizarrely am doing even better on it, so have been given a further supply.

If you want an update on your own supply, you can check it out here thebms.org.uk/2019/08/british-menopause-society-update-on-hrt-supply-shortages/

I use Premarin pills. Not a popular one as its a natural one from mares urine and the method used to obtain it isn’t the best. But it’s the only one which works for me and I have tried many chemical sorts - pills and patches - but none worked well. No problems with obtaining it, but it does come from Canada.

Premarin is unpopular and rightly so, it's barbaric cruelty for the greedy suppliers.

Please please don't use this, try anything, go cold turkey and let the menopause pass just as puberty did, try anything else but this.

PSA: Ladies, please make sure that if you still have your uterus, you check with your provider regarding your need for progesterone. Unopposed estrogen should not be used in a woman who still has a uterus, because it can increase the risk for endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus; sadly, not a theoretical risk as this is the most common reproductive malignancy in women). Your provider will be able to tell you exactly what you should be taking.

I didn’t take HRT I just suffered,terribly but it’s done with now.
But my friend has had problems with her usual tablets and was offered Premarin. She won’t take them because of the ethical issues but also because her Rabbi says it’s not kosher.
Last I heard, she is weaning off her meds and seeing how she feels. Pretty rough I expect.

From experience and what I understand the above regarding progesterone is absolutely true. You can get progesterone easily in tablet form or by using a Mirena coil. But the oestrogen is more problematic to obtain if you want it in patch form. Orally `i think it is readily available still. Overall it boils down to which form of HRT suits you best. Many women find that patches do but that is an issue in terms of supply right now

Never used HRT, so can't comment. I had an enforced menopause and just got on with it.

As it's not an actual illness just get over it.

I had HRT for a couple of years after a hysterectomy but was then told I ought to stop having it.

I accept I was fortunate but I didn't experience any difficulties at all when I stopped taking it.

Perhaps people could try coming off HRT. I understand some people will truly find it impossible.

I sometimes wonder how our mothers coped pre HRT.

I use Estradot patch, 50mcg which is not available. Fortunately I went to Tenerife on holiday and was able to get a supply over there. I just showed my prescription and they ordered them for me. I was more than happy to pay for them whereas I usually get them on the NHS. Not everyone is lucky enough to sail through the menopause. I had no quality of life for 12 years with no sign of it improving. I wasn’t able to ‘get over it’ or ‘get on with it’. HRT has given me my life back. If the shortage continues and I am unable to get the patches in the UK then I shall take another trip to Tenerife, that’s how much my HRT means to me.

Tooting29, they just had to put up with the menopause, just like the vast majority of women do today. After all, it's not an illness.

I'm with you hotmama, how anyone thinks they have the right to say 'get on with it' or 'get on with it' is beyond me. But Hey Ho there are a lot of unreasonable posters on here.

I suffered terribly when I came off HRT so recently went back on it - on the advice of my GP. I trust his judgement not the biased and over-opinionated posters on here (I would go to Tenerife and buy a supply too)!!

To get back to the OP - I have no problem getting HRT patches but rarely the same brand and I am only prescribed one month at a time whereas I used to get three months at a time.

should have said.....or "get over it"

You’ll find from the HRT clinic (NHS) if your fortunate enough to find one and persist with your GP for referral, that menopause does not have a cut off period. It can last a lifetime. They also prescribed my HRT and progesterone and said most (younger) GPs were ill informed and foisted their opinion onto patients. I got my latest patches from France. I’d be suicidal without them.

My mum used Premarin and it caused her breast cancer. Something to consider as well as the ethical issue

Why on earth would you suffer if you don’t need to? Things have improved since our parents day and we are lucky to have the choice of HRT should we need it.

If you didn’t need it be grateful and don't put down other women that did. We are all different.

Thanks for your empathy Magpie, much appreciated. I do know that my mother suffered terribly from crippling migraines and hot flushes and also died at the age of 53. Women nowadays are expected to hold down responsible jobs until their late sixties, made even harder if they are suffering from menopausal symptoms. We weren’t expected to live much longer than our childbearing years and therefore didn’t experience the effects of the menopause for so long. My sister is 82 and is still getting hot flushes! For SOME women it never stops. No, you’re right, it isn’t an illness but it can certainly make you FEEL very ill indeed.

kircubbin2000

As it's not an actual illness just get over it

What a stupid and ignorant comment.
It can be a breeze, it also be totally debilitating and in worse cases lead to long term MH problems and suicide. Or are MH problems not real either? Ffs.

My HRT, Kliovance is not on the shortage list and so I have a decent supply.

I suffer from anxiety and stress and the HRT keeps me balanced and reasonably happy. I agree with the above poster who commented on the variability of doctors and their willingness to prescribe HRT.

I recently nearly had kittens when a young, inexperienced GP did not like my lowish blood pressure reading and was all for refusing to prescribe unless the next reading was better. She took two more readings, each higher than the last and the final one was through the roof - because she was threatening to take my HRT away! Doh!

I came home, calmed down and sent in three more blood pressure readings by phone, all the usual very low numbers and the clinician approved the prescription, thank goodness.

Why do women undermine each other like this? Everyone's experience of the menopause is different and to say "just get on with it" is wrong. Let's support each other and save our criticism for those who have let this happen. I suspect if this didn't only affect women it would be more of a priority.

I dont know about HRT but my husband and I are finding a problem getting our blood pressure medication. Basically the pharmacist seems to have very low supplies. She ends up giving us a couple of days supply then waiting on an order coming in. This had been happening for months.

kircubbin2000 What an unpleasant and aggressive comment your "just get over it" is. That was totally unnecessary.