Women in the UK are facing shortages of several menopause medicines, and some skin patches could remain out of stock for weeks or even months. Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, helps women manage symptoms such as hot flushes and poor sleep by replacing hormones that decrease during menopause. According to official data, nearly two million women in England aged 40 and above were prescribed these treatments in 2025–26.
The latest shortages affect widely used skin patches. Government notices show that FemSeven Conti patches are out of stock until late November, while shortages of Estradot patches may continue until January. Supply problems for Estradot have been ongoing since December 2024. Health experts explain that medicine supplies are struggling to keep up with demand, which is growing by more than 10% each year.
Doctors and pharmacists say patients should not panic or change their treatment without guidance. Paula Briggs, a sexual and reproductive health consultant, said people can safely switch to alternative patch brands if the substitute provides the same dose of oestrogen through the skin. However, pharmacist Sobia Qasim warned women never to cut patches, borrow medicine from others, or wear a patch for longer than prescribed.
Anyone affected by the shortages should speak to their clinician to find a suitable substitute. Meanwhile, pharmacy organisations are calling on the UK government to set up a taskforce with suppliers to fix ongoing delivery problems.