Pharmacists have said trying to get hold of the two most popular HRT patches is like a lottery (file picture). Photo: BSIP via AFP
The HRT patch shortage has hit so hard that 20 percent of women have had to take time off work while others have reported thoughts of suicide.
A new survey of over 2000 HRT users revealed that the mental health of 80 percent of participants had been affected, while 70% said admitted their physical health had suffered.
A Hawkes Bay GP launched the survey a week ago after calling around Tauranga pharmacies at 7:30 pm on a Saturday to find estrogen patches for a patient.
"I asked myself why am I doing this and what's the bigger picture?" she told Nine to Noon.
Hawkes Bay GP Samantha Newman Photo: Supplied
Due to scarce supplies of estrogen patches, GPs and other health professionals here are "really under the pump" trying to help patients manage their symptoms, Newman said.
"There is huge stress on doctors who need to triage patients and their reactions to alternatives to patches and on pharmacists who don't have the right tools to work with.
"It's like pick your poison for women at the moment, what's the worst risk?"
For the last couple of years, due to the unavailability of Estradot, Dr Newman feels she hasn't been able to offer "gold-standard best practice" in the treatment of menopause symptoms.
When HRT users are unable to access medication, there's a negative impact on not only the individuals, she said, but also their coworkers and whānau.
''What was really upsetting me and I was finding the hardest was women and other users of Estradot being denied medications, and me seeing the difference and what it had done for them and what it enabled them to do."
Of the over 2,000 HRT users who responded to the survey, 20% said they'd had to take time off work due to the patch shortages, she says, and a number reported psychiatric admissions and even suicide attempts.
A lot of New Zealanders don't understand how seriously menopause can affect the health of women, Dr Newman said, and the incredible benefits that HRT therapy can deliver when prescribed appropriately.
Around 84% of survey respondents report that their sleep improved after using estrogen patches, Dr Newman said, while 33% were able to decrease or stop using pain medication and 17% stopped using antidepressants.
In general, New Zealanders need more public education about the symptoms of menopause, she said, and those working in healthcare need a better understanding of how HRT can help.
She is one of the health professionals calling for better communication from Pharmac about the shortage.
Even though Pharmac acknowledged in a 2022 media release that there'd been supply issues with Estradot for a few years, Dr Newman said, they have not yet officially responded to the shortage.
"I think they need to change their processing and their approval approach … and support all individuals impacted."
Estradiot: hormone replacement therapy drugs Photo: Supplied
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