Women across the United Kingdom are being urged not to change their hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medication without medical advice as shortages affect several commonly prescribed menopause treatments. Health officials have confirmed continuing supply problems with Estradot patches, while FemSeven Conti patches are also experiencing disruptions.
The shortages have raised concerns among women who depend on these medications to manage menopause symptoms. Doctors and pharmacists are advising patients to discuss suitable alternatives with healthcare professionals rather than adjusting their treatment independently.
The Department of Health and Social Care issued a new supply notification on October 12, 2026, confirming that FemSeven Conti patches are expected to remain unavailable until late November. The situation adds to existing problems with Estradot patches, which have experienced intermittent shortages since late 2024.
Doctors Warn Against Changing Medication Without Advice
Dr. Ursula Mason, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners in Northern Ireland, has acknowledged the anxiety caused by unexpected changes to established treatment routines.
Speaking to the BBC, Mason explained that patients can find switching medications stressful, particularly when they have spent considerable time finding a treatment that controls their symptoms.
She emphasized that pharmacists operating under the relevant shortage protocols can provide specified alternatives only when they meet the permitted conditions. For Estradot substitutions, this generally means using an alternative patch with the same active hormone and equivalent strength.
Patients requiring a different hormone combination or treatment schedule may need a new prescription from their doctor.
Pharmacist Paul Irvine also warned women against attempting to manage supply problems by changing their medication themselves. He encouraged patients to contact their GP or community pharmacist when their usual treatment becomes unavailable.
Different HRT products can contain different hormones or release medication at different rates. Even when treatments are intended to control the same symptoms, switching between them can require medical assessment.
Which HRT Products Are Affected?
Two important patch treatments are currently experiencing supply difficulties, although their ingredients and uses differ.
Estradot contains estradiol, a form of oestrogen used to replace declining hormone levels during menopause. The medication is delivered through a patch applied to the skin, allowing the hormone to enter the bloodstream gradually.
Several Estradot strengths have been affected by ongoing supply disruptions. The British government previously confirmed that global supply problems were interfering with deliveries and said it was working with the manufacturer to improve availability.
FemSeven Conti contains two hormones: estradiol and levonorgestrel. It is a continuous combined treatment generally prescribed to postmenopausal women who still have a uterus.
The progestogen component helps protect the lining of the uterus from the effects of oestrogen. This protection is important because taking systemic oestrogen alone can increase the risk of endometrial cancer in women with a uterus.
According to an October 12 notification published by Community Pharmacy England, FemSeven Conti patches are expected to remain out of stock until late November 2026.
The notification identifies Evorel Conti and certain Estradot Conti patches as available products that could help meet increased demand. However, these treatments do not contain exactly the same hormone combination as FemSeven Conti, so patients should not assume they are directly interchangeable.
The health service has indicated that other HRT products remain available, meaning the supply problems do not affect every menopause treatment.
Why HRT Shortages Can Disrupt Women's Health
Hormone replacement therapy is widely prescribed to relieve symptoms associated with falling oestrogen levels during perimenopause and menopause.
Common symptoms include hot flushes, night sweats, disrupted sleep, vaginal dryness and changes in mood. Some women also experience problems concentrating or managing everyday activities.
For patients whose symptoms are successfully controlled, an unexpected interruption in medication can be particularly difficult.
Stopping or changing HRT can allow previously controlled symptoms to return. The effects vary depending on the individual, the medication and the length of the interruption.
Finding an effective treatment can also take time. Doctors may need to adjust hormone doses or delivery methods to balance symptom relief with possible side effects.
The NHS explains that HRT is available as patches, tablets, gels, sprays and other preparations. The appropriate treatment depends on several factors, including medical history, symptoms and whether a woman has undergone a hysterectomy.
Not every preparation offers the same combination of hormones. This makes professional guidance especially important when a familiar product becomes unavailable.
Government Introduces Measures to Manage Supply
The Department of Health and Social Care has been working with medicine suppliers and healthcare organizations to reduce the effects of ongoing shortages.
In May 2026, the government told Parliament that more than 70 HRT products were available in the United Kingdom and that most remained in good supply.
Officials also acknowledged intermittent disruptions involving Estradot patches and confirmed that they were engaging with the manufacturer to speed deliveries.
One important measure is the use of Serious Shortage Protocols, which allow pharmacists to supply specified replacement medicines under carefully defined circumstances.
These arrangements can reduce the need for patients to return to their GP for another prescription when an authorized equivalent is available.
However, a shortage protocol does not give pharmacists unrestricted permission to replace one HRT product with another. Each protocol sets out the medicines covered and the conditions for substitution.
The government has previously used similar measures during HRT shortages in 2022 and 2023. Officials worked with manufacturers, wholesalers and pharmacists to monitor stocks and arrange additional supplies.
Despite those efforts, recurring disruptions involving certain products show that maintaining reliable supplies remains a challenge.
What Women Should Do If Their HRT Is Unavailable
Healthcare professionals recommend contacting a pharmacist as soon as a regular HRT product becomes difficult to obtain.
A pharmacist may be able to check availability, explain whether an authorized substitute can be supplied or recommend contacting the prescribing clinician.
Women should avoid increasing or reducing doses without professional advice. Using another person's prescription, cutting patches or changing application schedules without guidance can create additional risks.
Patients should also explain any difficulties they experience after switching treatments, including the return of menopause symptoms or new side effects.
Where appropriate, a GP may recommend a different brand, formulation or delivery method. The decision should account for the hormones required and the patient's medical circumstances.
Those who use combined HRT should be particularly careful not to omit prescribed progestogen protection while continuing systemic oestrogen unless specifically advised by a qualified clinician.
Supply Problems Expected to Continue
The latest FemSeven Conti disruption is expected to last until at least late November, according to the official medicine supply notification issued on October 12.
Estradot shortages have continued for a considerably longer period, although availability can differ between individual strengths and pharmacies.
Health officials continue to monitor medicine supplies and provide information to NHS professionals about alternatives and expected delivery dates.
For women who rely on these treatments, the immediate priority is maintaining safe and consistent symptom management. Patients whose prescriptions are affected are being encouraged to seek professional advice before their existing medication runs out.
The Department of Health and Social Care has not announced a single date when supplies of all affected HRT patches will return to normal.