My menopause patch disappeared, and I started asking bigger questions
Awareness of menopause is improving but does a prescription script for HRT guarantee access? Women needing medication might be labelled as not coping, ‘difficult’ or moody. Let’s change that.
After months using a menopause medication patch, its sudden disappearance from pharmacy shelves prompted the author to question access to treatment. The HRT patch had been providing benefits such as improved sleep, clarity and memory. Despite understanding potential reasons for supply issues, the author found it disheartening that merely having a prescription didn't guarantee access to the medication.
The author called various pharmacists, who suggested the public might not receive equal attention compared to those with erectile dysfunction. This disparity highlighted the need to recognise menopause as a significant health issue, not just an expected part of ageing. The author emphasised that women's health affects not only individuals but also families, workplaces, communities and economies.
They urged for HRT to be considered an essential medicine in both public and private healthcare, and called for better supply chain transparency, pharmacy stock tracking, timely updates for healthcare professionals, and policymakers to address recurring shortages as a public health concern.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
