UK Women Face Prolonged HRT Shortages With Patches Out of Stock Until Next Year
Women across the UK are facing renewed shortages of hormone replacement therapy products, with health officials warning that supply disruptions for specific patches could persist for weeks or months. Data from the NHS Business Services Authority show that in 2025-26, nearly 2 million women aged 40 and over in England received prescriptions for menopause symptom HRT.
The Department of Health and Social Care issued a medicine supply notification confirming that FemSeven Conti patches are currently out of stock, with availability not expected to return until late November. These patches combine estradiol, a form of oestrogen, with the synthetic progestogen levonorgestrel. Separate shortages affecting various Estradot patches, which also contain estradiol, are projected to continue through January. Supply issues for certain products began in December 2024, NHSBSA records show.
Pharmacists and Clinicians Raise Concerns Over Access and Specialised Products
Healthcare professionals warn that finding alternative treatments remains difficult for patients who rely on specific formulations. “When you have found an HRT treatment that helps you sleep, manage hot flushes and feel more like yourself, being told it is unavailable can be unsettling,” said Sobia Qasim, a pharmacist at the online pharmacy Curely. Sehar Shahid, a member of the National Pharmacy Association’s board, described the ongoing supply problems as the second longest-running individual medicine shortage in the UK. Shahid noted that certain HRT products are specialised and cannot always be easily substituted for an alternative.
Available Alternatives and Clinical Guidance on Patch Substitutions
Official medicine supply notifications suggest alternative patches for FemSeven Conti, including Evorel Conti, Estradot Conti 30/95, and Estradot Conti 40/130. These alternatives utilise estradiol alongside a different synthetic progestogen called norethisterone, and require twice-weekly application rather than a once-weekly schedule. Paula Briggs, who serves as a British Menopause Society past chair and a consultant in sexual and reproductive health, noted that keeping the oestradiol dosage consistent is the essential priority for patients. Briggs stated that differing progestogens do not create adverse impacts on symptom control, as progestogens protect the lining of the womb rather than manage direct menopause symptoms. Serious shortage protocols for Estradot products additionally list alternative estradiol patches from Estraderm MX and Evorel. Briggs advised patients that using the same dose of oestrogen delivered via a similar transdermal patch removes the need for concern.
What Affected Patients and Policymakers Must Do Next
Shahid advised individuals experiencing disruption to consult their clinician before making changes to their regimen. Qasim cautioned patients against extending the wear time of patches beyond the prescribed schedule, cutting patches into pieces, or sharing treatments with other individuals. Looking ahead, Briggs warned that supply pressures will likely continue because year on year there is a more than 10% increase in use. Shahid urged the secretary of state to convene a taskforce to fully grasp this issue, bringing together all aspects of the supply chain.
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