A shortage of some hormone replacement therapy drugs in the UK is also affecting women in the island.

There have been availability issues with some HRT products across the British Isles, some of these are related to manufacturing shortages, while others are related to supply issues.

The Manx Independent was contacted by a reader who said they had tried to pick up a prescription for the drugs in a Douglas pharmacy only to be told they were not available and they would need to contact their GP for further advice.

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: ’We have experienced a shortage of supply in some HRT products, although not all. This is caused by supply chain issues in the manufacture of these products.

’We are working closely with GPs to keep them up to date with the situation and to allow them to change to other products if necessary. Supplies of alternative HRT treatments are available and any patient affected should discuss these alternatives with their doctor.’

menopause

HRT is used to replace the hormones that a woman’s body no longer produces because of the menopause and can came in the form of tablets, skin patches, gels or creams and implants. It is sometimes also prescribed for osteoporosis to help strengthen bones and reduce the risk of breaking a bone.

NHS England says that the two main hormones used in HRT are oestrogen, types of which used include estradiol, estrone and estriol and progestogen which is a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone, such as dydrogesterone, medroxyprogesterone, norethisterone and levonorgestrel.

Its website adds that ’most women take combined HRT because taking oestrogen on its own can increase your risk of developing womb (endometrial) cancer’.

The British Menopause Association has also provided information for GPs and people who use HRT that ’different brands for the same medication may vary in appearance or excipients, however, they would provide equivalent amounts of hormones when used in similar doses’.

The association also stated: ’The BMS has been reassured that these are temporary shortages which pharmaceutical companies and their suppliers are trying to resolve.’