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Menopause Meds Vanish: Estrogen Shortages Worsen
28 Oct
Summary
- Estrogen patches, injections, and creams are now facing shortages.
- Surging demand follows removal of warning on hormone therapy risks.
- Supply chain issues are compounding the problems for patients.
Women in the United States are experiencing a worsening crisis in obtaining hormone replacement treatments for menopause symptoms. Beyond the already reported shortages of estrogen patches, injectable and vaginal estrogen products are now also in limited supply.
This situation has intensified following the FDA's decision last year to remove a significant boxed warning from certain hormone therapies. This warning had previously alerted users to potential heightened risks of serious conditions, and its removal has led to a notable increase in demand for these treatments.
Pharmaceutical consulting firm ProPharma notes that the current shortages may be partly due to patients switching from scarce estrogen patches to alternative forms like gels and creams. Major pharmacy chains and drug-shortage monitors report widespread issues with various estradiol products from multiple manufacturers.
Telehealth provider Midi Health describes growing supply-chain challenges, while billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs reports a fivefold to tenfold surge in demand for these products, despite efforts to expand capacity and maintain inventory through increased purchasing from suppliers.
Manufacturers like Viatris have acknowledged a significant demand increase and are working to boost production, including around-the-clock operations at their Vermont facility. Despite these efforts, the overall supply has not yet met the escalating demand in the U.S.
