Monitor this situation.
Unsubscribe anytime.
[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [HEALTH]
12 clusters · 38 sources · 63 days · First seen · Last updated
Global and regional hormone replacement therapy shortages
Overview
The shortage of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medications, specifically estrogen and progesterone, continues to create significant healthcare access challenges. In the United States, the scarcity of estrogen patches followed an FDA decision to remove black box labeling, which increased market demand and forced patients to ration medication or travel long distances to find supplies. Experts suggest this US shortage could persist for months or years.
In Spain, the shortage that began with the estradiol spray Lenzetto has expanded to other estradiol-based preparations, including Evopad, Estradot, and Bijuva. The Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) has announced measures to address the scarcity. Supply of Lenzetto is expected to begin recovering in mid-November, though full normalization may not occur until 2027. Evopad patches (25 and 50 microgram doses) are expected to return to supply on November 5, and Oestraclin gel replenishment is anticipated in the first week of November. While the manufacturer of Estradot will cease marketing the product once current stocks are exhausted, the AEMPS noted its limited market share should minimize the overall impact. To mitigate patient impact, the AEMPS has enabled access to limited units of Lenzetto as a foreign medication.
In Sweden, authorities report a trend indicating that availability of estrogen medications, including sprays, patches, and gels, is beginning to improve. To encourage manufacturers to prioritize the Swedish market, the Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV) has approved higher prices for these medications, though this results in higher costs for patients. The Swedish Medical Products Agency is investigating the possibility of domestic production, though only one actor has expressed interest. Tina Crafoord, Director of the Medical Products Agency, noted that while the shortage is not yet fully resolved for certain forms, improvements should become more evident after the turn of the year.
Entities
Spain · Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices · Swedish Medical Products Agency · Lenzetto · Asociación Española para el Estudio de la Menopausia
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] A shortage of the estradiol spray Lenzetto has led to a scarcity of hormone patches and gels.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The shortage of the spray Lenzetto has caused increased demand for other hormone therapies, including patches and creams.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Products (Aemps) advises that magistral formulas of estrogens should only be used as a last resort due to shortages of hormone replacement therapies.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Magistral preparations show significantly lower and more variable hormone absorption levels compared to authorized industrial products like gels or patches.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Catalan Health Department may authorize pharmacies to prepare magistral estradiol formulas if supply shortages are not resolved within one month.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The shortage of Lenzetto has been ongoing since March 16.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Hormone therapy use in Spain has tripled in recent years.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Approximately 1.2 million women in Spain could benefit from hormone therapies for severe symptoms.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Health authorities in Catalonia will authorize pharmacies to prepare magistral formulas to address hormone therapy shortages.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Lenzetto sales increased from 13,000 units in 2018 to 123,000 in 2024.
Timeline
-
[HEALTH] 3 sourcesSweden reports improving availability of estrogen medications
Swedish authorities report a trend of increasing availability for estrogen medications following years of shortages caused by rising demand, despite higher costs for patients.
-
[HEALTH] 2 sourcesSweden government to address estrogen medication shortage
The Swedish government will present a plan to combat a widespread shortage of estrogen medications affecting thousands of women.
-
[HEALTH] 4 sourcesSpanish health authorities address menopause medication shortages
Spanish health authorities are managing shortages of estradiol-based menopause medications, with Lenzetto and certain hormone patches expected to see gradual supply recovery starting in November.
-
[HEALTH] 3 sourcesSpain and Andorra face shortages of menopause hormone therapy drugs
Spain and Andorra are facing shortages of hormone replacement therapies used to treat menopause symptoms and prevent bone density loss, driven by global supply issues and rising demand.
-
[HEALTH] 3 sourcesSpain faces shortages of menopause hormone replacement therapies
Spain faces shortages of menopause hormone replacement therapies, with officials expecting supplies to normalize by November. Experts note a significant gap between women needing treatment and those receiving's
-
[HEALTH] 3 sourcesSpain faces menopause hormone treatment shortages
A shortage of menopause hormone treatments, specifically Lenzetto, is affecting hundreds of thousands of women in Spain due to surging European demand and manufacturing constraints.
-
[HEALTH] 2 sourcesSpain faces hormone replacement therapy shortage
Over 25,000 people have signed a petition demanding the Spanish Ministry of Health address a critical shortage of menopause hormone replacement therapies.
-
[HEALTH] 9 sourcesSpain menopause hormone therapy use triples amid medication shortages
Hormone therapy use for menopause in Spain has tripled to 9%, yet a shortage of the spray Lenzetto is causing widespread scarcity of other HRT options like patches and gels.
-
[HEALTH] 3 sourcesSpain's Aemps warns against magistral estrogen use amid hormone therapy shortages
Spain's Aemps warns that magistral estrogen formulas should be a last resort due to absorption issues amid a shortage of hormone replacement therapies, including the spray Lenzetto.
-
[HEALTH] 5 sourcesSpain faces shortage of hormone replacement therapies
A shortage of hormone replacement therapies, including Lenzetto spray, is affecting thousands of women and transgender individuals in Spain, causing a ripple effect of scarcity across alternative treatments.
-
[HEALTH] 5 sourcesSpain's Ministry of Health pressured over menopause medication shortages
A petition with over 16,500 signatures is demanding urgent action from the Ministry of Health to resolve shortages of hormone replacement therapy medications like estrogen and progesterone.
-
[HEALTH] 2 sourcesEstrogen patch shortage impacts hormone replacement therapy access
A shortage of estrogen patches is forcing women to travel long distances or ration medication to access hormone replacement therapy for perimenopause and menopause symptoms.
Sources
bors-nliv.svd.se · caminodesantiago.lavozdegalicia.com · caphillstyle.com · columnadigital.com · cronicadecantabria.com · dailydigest.ie · deia.eus · di.se · diariandorra.ad · diariodealmeria.es · diariodenavarra.es · diarioestrategia.cl · efesalud.com · el9nou.cat · elobservadormexico.com · euronews.net · europasur.es · fmmundo.com · gazetashneta.net · granadahoy.com · hd.se · hemnytt.com · lacronicabadajoz.com · lakemedelsvarlden.se · laopinioncoruna.es · larazon.es · lavanguardia.com · malagahoy.es · noticiasdeNavarra.com · nypost.com · ocio.diarioinformacion.com · ocio.farodevigo.es · que.es · rtpa.es · sentido-comun.com.mx · upday.com · vogue.es · zeromagazine.mx
This summary has been updated 10 times: see revision history