Rising demand for menopause hormone therapy in New Zealand has outpaced supply, with Pharmac rationing availability, while doctors lack adequate training to prescribe treatment effectively.

The Conversation

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Higher awareness of the benefits of menopause hormone therapy (MHT) has led to rising demand for treatment – so much so that manufacturers can’t keep up and New Zealand’s drug-funding agency Pharmac had to temporarily ration supplies.
Most women today are prescribed body-identical hormones, including transdermal estradiol (patch or gel) and progesterone capsules, to treat menopause symptoms including hot flushes or night sweats. Estrogen relieves symptoms, while progesterone protect