MNHQ here: have you found it difficult to get HRT recently?

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello

As lots of MNers have already been discussing, there seems to be a nationwide shortage of some forms of HRT. (The reasons for the shortage seem a little clouded in mystery, although there's a partial explainer here.)

We've noticed a few MNers talking about going abroad to obtain their usual brand of HRT, or considering buying online - which of course isn't something health professionals would generally recommend (and probably doesn't feel very good to the women doing it either).

It seems pretty scandalous to us that women are having to do this in order to be sure of supplies of essential medicines and we wanted to get a sense of how many of you are affected.

So if you've struggled to get supplies of your normal HRT, or have considered going abroad or buying online to secure your supplies, we'd be interested to hear from you - please post on this thread or if you'd rather keep it confidential feel free to PM us or email us on [email protected]

Thanks
MNHQ

I don't think there is a global shortage though. None of my international friends seem to be having issues.

I'm not sure I understand how they can be out of stock of Conti but not Sequi, because isn't Sequi half Conti patches anyway?

ohyoubadbadkitten I am merely recounting the word used by my GP - perhaps she meant "global" in the sense of it being a widespread problem rather than something relating to the whole world or worldwide - but that is what she said. She also explicitly mentioned a shortage of contraception as well as HRT. The article posted by MNHQ at the outset mentions supply problems starting in China so if other countries are also supplied from China then one would expect them to be experiencing problems too.

[quote grumiosmum]@RowanMumsnet could you pin this thread to one of the more general high traffic Boards - chat or AIBU maybe - as I'm sure there are lots of HRT users who probably don't visit this Board. You might get a higher response.[/quote]

Hello - it is pinned in those boards (stickied threads rotate, so you won't see it every time you go to AIBU or Chat home page, but it is stickied there)

Thanks for all your responses. We are definitely thinking about doing something about this - just trying to work out what!

Thanks @RowanMumsnet & apologies for misunderstanding how it works.

And thanks for being on the ball about this issue.

There is still a conspiracy of silence around Menopause, which makes me cross, although the Guardian has been trying to address it this week.

@aingil I understood from other sources of info that the China problem was simply to do with the components used to make glue for patches. I think there are various possible reasons, one being the manufacturers stock piling raw ingredients (Brexit) so production cannot be speeded up, the other is the packaging/ glue issue. The other is a possible behind the scenes directive from Dept Health to hold back supplies so there will be some post a no-deal Brexit and people cannot complain that Brexit resulted in medicine shortages!

It's not just patches. I wrote on the other thread about this but I had issues with getting Elleste duet and so GP changed it to NovoFem and now I'm having issues getting hold of that. I can only seem to get 3 month prescriptions so it's impossible to get the prescription early to ensure that you can hunt around pharmacies to get it.

Also I have to go into the surgery each time for a prescription, no repeat prescription for me!

@jinglinghellsbells

I must admit that part of my motivation to take this opportunity to stop HRT was that I did think there's a risk it will be even harder to get supplies post-Brexit - so I'd rather not be reliant on it if possible. I also didn't particularly want to have to take a pill a day - I have been pretty good for almost 2 years changing my patch every 3/4 days but sometimes even that is a challenge 😳. So far I haven't had any side effects from withdrawal - my doc said I'd know if I was going to have problems withiin a week. I have had some hot spells but it has been very hot 🥵 so I'm putting that down to the weather, not menopause. I'm certainly not experiencing anything like the symptoms I had which caused me to start HRT in the first place.

Having suffered quite badly prior to going on to HRT I have tremendous sympathy for anyone who does need it or would find it helpful to relieve their symptoms. I really hope that the supply problem gets sorted out urgently.

I also meant to say earlier that right from the start, when I was originally on Evorel Sequi in 2017 I had problems getting hold of it and often had to try a number of chemists before my prescription could be fulfilled.

It's also bloody annoying that the Sequi type is considered to be two separate prescriptions, despite being in one box - however anyone getting regular prescriptions should consist getting an NHS prepayment card as that will help alleviate the costs.

I also agree with a number of posters who have said that we don't talk about menopause enough. We don't. We should. It affects half the population directly and the entire population indirectly.

Also don't want to be accused of man bashing but - seriously - if this was something the other half of the population was relying on to carry on life as normal, supply does anyone really think these problems would have been permitted to arise and to continue for so long?

consider not consist

and that last bit should have read

Also don't want to be accused of man bashing but - seriously - if this was something the other half of the population was relying on to carry on life as normal, does anyone really think these supply problems would have been permitted to arise and to continue for so long?

typed in haste - 🤨

Ive just been prescribed 6 months supply by our practice nurse of eveorel 50 and the practice pharmacy had it in stock

I've been unable to get hold of mine - Evorel 50. The pharmacist has mentioned delays and difficulty ordering them for a few months, but until the shortages hit the press I hadn't actually realised that there was an actual problem. They're now saying it's out of stock and will be until mid-2020.

I have six weeks worth of patches left and then that's it. My GP doesn't want to discuss alternatives until my prescription needs refilling, which I can understand since no one knows what will be available then, but I'd like to try and get it now so I know I'm not going to drop off a hormonal cliff edge in six weeks. They'll not prescribe more than 8 weeks supply at a time, so whatever happens I'm going to be in the position repeatedly until my usual stuff is in stock again. Worst case scenario they've said I'll "just have to manage without".

I went through an early menopause in my early twenties, I already have low bone density as a result even though I'm only early thirties now. Other than DH no one knows about it, I don't know anyone going through the menopause so I have no one to commiserate with etc. I can't just laugh off hot flushes at our toddler group. I just feel a bit abandoned. I'm trying not to think about it too much because I just get stressed, but I am really, really worried about what will happen if I can't get an alternative hrt.

Unable to obtain Elleste Duet since some time in the Spring. Fortunately the replacement provided by my GP pharmacy seems to work fine with no side effects.

I had 3 months supply of Kliovance delivered from a private pharmacy last week. I would be very worried indeed if it is unavailable, I would almost certainly have to give up work if the symptoms returned as before. No one really cares about those of us in this situation because firstly we are women, secondly we are older women and thirdly we seem to be viewed as unreasonably pursuing the elixir of youth, rather than needing treatment for truly debilitating problems.

we seem to be viewed as unreasonably pursuing the elixir of youth, rather than needing treatment for truly debilitating problems.

I actually had that said to my face by a locum GP last month! She even gave a tinkley laugh and a patronising head tilt

Yes. I've only been on HRT for a few months so it's complicated because we're still trying to find the correct dose for me.Started on Everel 50 a couple of months ago. I had to try 4 or 5 pharmacies before I found one with some in stock.
Then last month I was prescribed Estradot 75 which I got hold of ok.
Today I was prescribed Elleste 80. It should be available as of 21st August. However Lloyd's pharmacy didn't have any in, neither did Boots. Boots have ordered it for me, so I should get it tomorrow.
Each time I go in to see the nurse she has to check on the British Menopause Society website to see what's available before prescribing, however that still doesn't guarantee I can get hold of it easily

@aingil The women I know of, through reading other forums, have found that after stopping HRT their symptoms came back roughly 3 months later. I doubt a week is going to have much impact, being honest. A couple of them went back on it after struggling for around 6 months. It usually takes a while for HRT to leave your system. They say allow 3 months for the full benefits to build up and presumably 3 months for withdrawal affects to show. Hopefully you may not have any but for the record, longer term symptoms like vaginal atrophy and pelvic prolapse can start years later.

@jinglinghellsbells hmmm vaginal atrophy or pelvic prolapse. 

For now I think I will follow my own GPs' advice as regards being on or off HRT, rather than information gleaned from forums which can only ever be generic, rather than tailored to an individual case, and where there's a risk it can be inaccurate, misleading and/or alarmist. My GPs know me and all my history.

What I will say before I sign off is that one of the issues with HRT and indeed it seems to me any treatment for female health issues, is that every woman's situation is different and her physical and indeed mental reaction may be different, depending on whether she has or has not had children, whether she has had various other conditions in the past, or procedures such as an endometrial resection, her genetics and wider family history, her underlying physical health etc etc. When I started HRT as it happens I felt the benefit within a week but for a friend who started on the same day as me the effects took much longer to kick in.

Like RapidlyLosingThePlot I am young - in my early 30s - and have just been told that I need to begin hrt because of pituitary issues that mean my body produces very little oestrogen. I'm very concerned about the shortage and also how they will prioritise the drugs - it seems like a free for all at the moment, without looking at medical need.

I've not had a chance to read the full thread but I'm s hospital pharmacist and we were recently sent the following information regarding availability of supply of all HRT products.
psnc.org.uk/our-news/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt-supply-issues/
I'm on the app so hopefully this link will work.

Wellhellothere thanks for that link. It shows both HRT products that I have used as being in stock whereas I'm having trouble getting either of them. I wonder what the reason is for that disparity? Are the hospital pharmacies a priority do you think?

@aingil Sadly GPs are not well informed on HRT and menopause. What your GP has told you is at variance with expert medical opinion. (I was personally told by my gynae- - one of top in UK- that going without HRT for 3 months would allow me to see how I was, if that's what I chose to do.)

If you want some expert advice, read the website Menopause Matters where there is a blog- front page- by Dr Currie, or the website of Dr Louise Newson (My Menopause Dr). The examples I gave are simply experiences women posted about- one for example had been on HRT for years and once she stopped at 60-ish needed a hysterectomy shortly after owing to loss of pelvic support.

But it's also well known that pelvic support and urogenital health depends on a supply of estrogen . menopause symptoms fall into 2 stages- usually hot flushes etc first then longer term, issues with bones, pelvic floor and bladders.

@aingil Don't get me wrong :) no way am I trying to change your decision to come off it, simply saying that after a week it may be too soon to feel any different. Obviously let's hope you feel fine!

A friend is trying to get Oestrogen cream to make her smear easier after a couple of difficult experiences .Whilst the Doctor is sympathetic she refuses to prescribe any without giving an explanation as to why (cost?)