RCGP chief warns that women are putting their health at risk to source HRT

As reported by the Guardian, Prof Martin Marshall of the Royal College of GPs (RCGPs) has spoken of the mental and physical dangers of sourcing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the black market

Prof Marshall has recently spoken of concerns that “so many women” are desperate to use the prescribed medication, but struggle because of shortages of some HRT products.

Approximately 1m women in the UK treat prescription medication to treat symptoms of menopause.

The chair of the RCGP said “The college is concerned to see supply issues around the provision of HRT, and we understand the distress this is causing to so many women.”

“We are hearing that the supply issue is specific to England, as there has been a big rise in the demand for oestrogen, particularly transdermal, we use. There is not the same problem with the supply of some of the other oral preparations which are appropriate for many women in the UK and give good symptom relief.”

Thousands of GPs in the UK have been briefed about the availability of HRT products and ways to help women who need to be prescribed a substitute.

“We urge them [patients] not to share HRT medication as this could lead to serious side-effects” warned Prof Marshall warned.

Dr Martin Kinsella, a hormone expert, commented “I’ve heard of women buying HRT on the black market and in doing so putting their own safety at risk, and some whose mental health as well as physical health has suffered hugely due to this shortage.”

There have been calls for Sajid Javid, Health Secretary, to change the law and let pharmacists alter prescriptions during medicine shortages. English law currently stipulates that they must provide only the exact prescription.

Javid has said he is “determined” to resolve the crisis by using the lessons learned from the COVID-19 vaccination rollout and appointing a HRT supply tsar.