Health Worldwide shortages of hormone replacement therapy medication leave women struggling

Karen Golden can vividly recall the symptoms of menopause she experienced during a shortage of her hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medication five years ago.

"It wasn't a good time," recalled the Toronto-based lawyer. She had started undergoing HRT to deal with sleep issues and anxiety related to menopause several years ago.

But in 2020, there was a shortage of the medication she was taking. Her doctor tried to switch her to other products, but they caused side-effects, so Golden made the decision to go off HRT altogether and the symptoms returned.

Golden is one of many women around the world who have been affected by worldwide shortages of HRT medications, used to help manage menopausal symptoms. The shortages have left women in the lurch, unable to find relief from symptoms that range from inconvenient to debilitating.

Drug Shortages Canada, an online database of drug shortages and discontinuations in the country, shows that since 2017, there have been 92 shortages and four discontinuations of products containing estradiol, a form of estrogen commonly used in HRT drugs. The products include transdermal patches, pills, vaginal rings, topical gels and creams.

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/hormone-replacement-therapy-shortage-1.7602722

Because Big Pharma REALLY doesn't care about women.