August 30th 2024.
The current shortage of hormone replacement patches is causing a great deal of distress for women going through menopause all across Australia. Health experts are calling it a national health crisis, as the impact on patients is truly devastating. Due to this shortage, many women are being forced to spend more money on less-effective treatments in order to manage their menopause symptoms.
Pharmacists are reporting that the treatments in short supply won't be available until next year, leaving patients feeling desperate for any sort of relief. One such patient is Nicola Mann, a mother of two from Port Melbourne. She shared her experience with 9News, stating that she was struggling with sleep and mood swings before being prescribed hormone replacement therapy patches. However, her relief was short-lived as she was unable to get her hands on them.
Mann tried various alternatives, including generic patches that didn't stick well and ones with doses too strong, forcing her to cut them in half. She humorously added, "If the patriarchy had to take HRT, they would have solved this issue 10 years ago." Endocrinologist Dr. Sonia Davison expressed her concerns, stating that the shortage of patches has been incredibly traumatic for many patients.
Pharmacists are currently experiencing a backlog of orders that have been piling up for months, and the alternatives available can be twice or even three times the price. As pharmacist Sam Afsar explained, the wholesalers have no stock to offer. In some cases, there are no options at all, and even if there are, they may not be covered under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
The demand for HRT patches, along with supply chain issues, means that it could be months before they are back in stock. Doctors are pleading with manufacturers to prioritize the Australian market. According to Dr. Davison, Australia is not a major market for hormone therapy, and the manufacturers may not see much profit from producing patches. As a result, many patients, like Mann, have had to switch to tablets as their only option.
Doctors are urging patients to consider all available options and not give up on treatment. Even if it means trying out a temporary solution, such as a gel or a different type of tablet, until the patches are back in stock. The Australasian Menopause Society has a helpful information page that outlines all of the different therapies available for women going through menopause.
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