Menopause survey: Four in ten women taking HRT have been affected by recent shortages

menopause survey hrt shortage

A new survey of over 1,500 women by Mumsnet and Gransnet suggests that the recent shortages of some HRT medications have affected large numbers of women. 43% of those taking HRT say they’ve been affected by current shortages, and 40% have been told by a pharmacist or GP their current HRT medication isn’t available.

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The extent of the HRT shortage

According to government figures, around 360,000 prescriptions of HRT for menopause symptoms are dispensed each month. Women taking HRT have been having trouble getting hold of their medications for several months, and 15 HRT products are reported to be entirely out of stock.

8% of those going through the perimenopause and 35% of those going through the menopause say they are on HRT, despite it being a NICE recommended treatment for symptoms associated with the menopause and perimenopause.

Wrong prescription?

16% of those who sought help for menopause symptoms say their GPs wrongly prescribed anti-depressants, and 24% say they complained to their GP for a year or more before being prescribed appropriate medication or help.

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Press scaremongering

59% of women surveyed think the press is guilty of scaremongering about HRT risks, and 40% say that press stories about HRT risks make them anxious and less likely to consider taking HRT. Only 13% believe the press gets its coverage of HRT scares ‘about right’.

menopause survey

End the HRT shortage

Mumsnet and Gransnet are today launching a campaign to get a better deal for women going through the menopause. The campaign will call on the government to end the HRT shortage once and for all, as well as providing more menopause training for GPs, and ensuring that anti-depressants aren’t prescribed where HRT is more clinically appropriate.

Mumsnet and Gransnet founder Justine Roberts said: “It’s astonishing that we still have no adequate explanation for the HRT shortage, many months after the problem emerged, and little evidence of concerted action to get supplies back into pharmacies. It’s difficult enough for women to get good healthcare for menopause-related symptoms; it’s outrageous that so many face difficulties in filling their prescriptions.”

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