Spain faces menopause hormone treatment shortages

Hundreds of thousands of women in Spain are facing difficulties securing hormonal medications used to relieve menopause symptoms. The shortage began with Lenzetto, an estradiol spray, and has since spread to other estradiol-based preparations such as Evopad, Estradot, and Bijuva as rising demand outpaces manufacturing capacity.

Manufacturer Gedeon Richter confirmed that Lenzetto is expected to return to Spanish pharmacies during the second half of November. The company attributed the shortage to a sharp increase in demand across Europe that exceeded both production capacity and the supply of necessary administration applicators. While the company is working to expand manufacturing through new plants and production lines, it warned that global supply constraints might prevent it from fully meeting demand through 2027.

In response to the crisis, more than 25,000 people have signed a petition demanding urgent government action. In Catalonia, proposals have been made to prepare personalized estradiol formulas in pharmacies, though the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (Aemps) advised this should be a last resort due to potential variations in absorption. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has also acknowledged the shortages of these medications within the European Union.