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Original poster

Oestrogel shortage?

96 replies

Hop243 · 10/01/2022 13:52

Hello, first post from a long time lurker! I got a prescription for oestrogel and utrogestan from my GP but the local pharmacy are saying there is a national shortage of oestrogel. This is my first attempt at HRT so wasn't expecting that! Has anybody else been affected, I am in the south east area.

OP posts:
Psychonabike · 21/01/2022 16:10

But yes, total relief! My sanity depends on it.

ChocoholicContralto · 21/01/2022 18:53

I only tried my usual local (independent) pharmacy (who were the ones who couldn’t get it) and our next nearest, which is a Day Lewis one. They said they’d had problems getting hold of it but had sourced some from a supplier they don’t normally use. They had a backlog of prescriptions to fill though, so I had to wait a few days.

PatterPaws · 16/02/2022 16:46

I've been waiting for two weeks. Am about to run out. Sad

PatterPaws · 18/02/2022 20:25

Have mine now, phew Smile

wildthingsinthenight · 21/02/2022 10:41

Hi all.
I have this problem today too.
Was prescribed the gel plus utrogestan as I am intolerant to the old fashioned synthetic progesterone. Might be intolerant to Utrogestan too so will then have to go down the vaginal route.
Anyone still having problems getting the oestrogel? Pharmacy wasn't very helpful and said to call gp but my gp is hopeless and hadn't even heard of it. Had a bit of a fight to get it.

wildthingsinthenight · 21/02/2022 10:44

@ChocoholicContralto

Went back to pharmacy today…he hadn’t kept any back for me 😡. Other local pharmacy doesn’t have any either. Getting desperate now 😩. I can’t use patches (I’m allergic) and can’t tolerate oral progesterone (I’ve been using the utrogestan vaginally). Eking my last pack of gel out but there’s not much left.
Do you mind me asking..have you been using the utrogestan vaginally as advised by your doctor? And what dose do you use? Thank you xx
JinglingHellsBells · 21/02/2022 12:11

@wildthingsinthenight The info that Besins released on the shortage was that there is not a problem with manufacturing, it's mainly about demand. They appear to say they have increased production to cope with the demand and it should all right itself before long. They appear to say that it's just taking a bit longer to get from the labs, to the warehouses, to the pharmacy.

wildthingsinthenight · 21/02/2022 13:28

[quote JinglingHellsBells]@wildthingsinthenight The info that Besins released on the shortage was that there is not a problem with manufacturing, it's mainly about demand. They appear to say they have increased production to cope with the demand and it should all right itself before long. They appear to say that it's just taking a bit longer to get from the labs, to the warehouses, to the pharmacy.[/quote]
Thank you.
Its taken me so long to sort it all out and persude my gp that this is what I needConfused I was so pleased last week that she'd prescribed it for me!
Typical isn't it?

JinglingHellsBells · 21/02/2022 13:34

@wildthingsinthenight The British menopause society usually/ always has updates on this on their website (home page) and it's more reliable than anecdotal experiences.

JinglingHellsBells · 21/02/2022 13:38

This is from the BMS website @wildthingsinthenight

Besins Healthcare (UK) HRT products

Oestrogel systemic estradiol gel.

Besins Healthcare (UK) Ltd has seen a high demand for Oestrogel over recent months and in

order to meet this demand our safety stocks have become depleted. This means that all

new and increased weekly deliveries into the country are being used immediately to fulfil

current orders.

While we continue supplying Oestrogel to meet current orders and work to replenish our

safety stock, some pharmacies may report Oestrogel as out of stock at their local

wholesaler. This should be a short-term issue and supplies would normally flow through to

local wholesaler branches after a few days of such an occurrence.

We have increased stock of Oestrogel coming into our distribution centre on a weekly basis

that should be sufficient to meet current order quantities and we are doing everything we

can to manage and expedite supplies to pharmacies across the country through the

wholesalers.

wildthingsinthenight · 21/02/2022 18:23

Thank you @JinglingHellsBells!

Poppy61 · 24/02/2022 20:31

Is anyone finding that their chemist is now able to fulfill their prescription and how long have you waited? I tried for my first prescription yesterday, to be told its on Long Term Out of Stock, so I'm thinking I'll be a long way down the queue to receive.

goodjoujou · 26/02/2022 13:09

Just tried 2 local chemists on south west and they have none and haven’t had for a couple weeks. I’m about to run out-just when it was going so well!

WombatChocolate · 26/02/2022 16:27

I got a prescription for 3 bottles yesterday. I rang 3 pharmacies and the 3rd said they could give me 1 and owe me the other 2.

I went to get it and could see quite a lot in the shelves behind the pharmacist. She said they were all spoken for.

I’ve probably got another week’s worth in my current bottle and then this new one will last 4 weeks, so I’m hoping that within 5 weeks there will be improvements and also the pharmacy that owes me 2 will have some again. She seemed to think there would be some next week.

Anyway, seems like my struggle wasn’t nearly as bad as many of you.

I think ringing round lots of pharmacies is the key - try the independent small ones and not just the big chains. Get your prescription sent back to the spine and get the barcode so you can take it anywhere if you don’t have the paper version.

Livelifeinthebuslane · 26/02/2022 16:35

DD who works at a GP surgery said that the pharmacy next to them had a delivery last week so it is coming through but maybe a bit at a time.

Poppy61 · 26/02/2022 17:43

I've tried a few pharmacies in the area, but all with the same answer; nothing. Sounds like it is starting to come through though? I wish everyone the very best with their estrogel hunt!

tinkywinkyshandbag · 26/02/2022 18:39

I have at least one if not two unopened unused bottles if anyone wants them

namechanged221 · 26/02/2022 23:43

Is Sandrena the same thing as Estrogel?

That's the sachets one... it is Estrogen gel

goodjoujou · 27/02/2022 07:23

@tinkywinkyshandbag oh that would be amazing thank you. I would love a bottle if possible. Did you try it but didn’t like it?

tinkywinkyshandbag · 27/02/2022 07:57

@goodjoujou no probs pm me your address yes tried it but couldn't cope with sore boobs. I had same issue with estrodot.

goodjoujou · 27/02/2022 09:05

@ tinkywinkyshandbag great thanks so much have just sent a PM.
I hope you’ve found an alternative that works for you.

Beeniemum · 13/04/2022 09:38

There is a nationwide shortage of Oestrogel due to the huge increase in the number of women now coming forward for treatment. It’s not expected to be for very long.

Underthesea · 13/04/2022 18:19

I managed to get a 6 month supply (9 bottles) this week from Boots, having waited 2 weeks for them to get them all in for me. They were very helpful and gave me 2 to keep me going while they sourced the rest. I'm so relieved I don't have to worry again for a while.

PlainJaneEyre · 14/04/2022 18:55

@Underthesea

I managed to get a 6 month supply (9 bottles) this week from Boots, having waited 2 weeks for them to get them all in for me. They were very helpful and gave me 2 to keep me going while they sourced the rest. I'm so relieved I don't have to worry again for a while.
I have to say that I think this is wrong that Boots is allowing you to have 9 bottles when some of us can't get any. Boots should have more common sense than this.
BiologicalRealist · 14/04/2022 19:43

Lloyds direct have finally sent me 3 months supply so hopefully like with the pp this is a sign the supply is picking up.