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A shortage of hormone replacement patches is causing misery for menopausal women across Australia.
Health experts are labelling it a national health crisis, saying the impact is devastating for patients.
Women are being forced to spend more for less-effective treatments to manage menopause due to a national shortage of hormone replacement therapy patches.
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Pharmacists say many of the treatments won't be back in stock until next year – and patients are desperate for relief.
Port Melbourne mother-of-two Nicola Mann knows what it's like to have menopause take over.
"I was struggling to sleep, feeling really quite moody, up and down," she told 9News.
Being prescribed hormone replacement therapy patches was a relief for Mann, until she couldn't get them.
"I've tried about four or five different patches – some generic which didn't quite stick, some which the dose was too big and I had to cut [the patch] in half," she said.
"If the patriarchy had to take HRT they'd have had it sorted 10 years ago."
Endocrinologist Dr Sonia Davison says the shortage of patches has "been really, really traumatic" for many patients.
Pharmacists have months of orders backing up and alternatives can be double or triple the price.
"There is no stock at the wholesalers," pharmacist Sam Afsar said.
"Quite often there isn't options and if there are options they may not be under PBS either."
The demand for HRT patches along with supply chain issues means it could be months before there's stock on shelves.
Doctors are pleading with manufacturers to look at the Australian market.
"We're not a huge market for hormone therapy, I don't think the manufacturers make much money from hormone patches," Davison says.
After battling for patches, Mann is now on a tablet instead.
Doctors want other patients to consider their options, so they don't give up on treatment.
"Even if it is a stop gap using a gel, a tablet, trial something," Davison said.
"The Australasian Menopause Society has an information page on all of the different therapies available."
