206 - Utrogestan supply issues: what it means and alternatives available

The Dr Louise Newson Podcast

Dr Louise Newson

Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Medicine

4.8 • 798 Ratings

🗓️ 30 May 2023

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The supply of HRT medication Utrogestan is being restricted by the UK government because of shortages amid increase demand. Pharmacies will only dispense two months’ worth of Utrogestan 100mg capsules per prescription to help ensure continued access for women. In this special episode, Newson Health pharmacist prescriber and menopause specialist Faiza Kennedy joins Dr Louise to talk about the restrictions, and where and how to seek advice and help. They talk about the importance of taking a progesterone as part of your HRT regime if you still have a womb, as well as alternatives to Utrogestan, including progesterone in pessary form, the Mirena coil and combined forms of HRT containing both estrogen and progesterone. Faiza’s top three tips: Only order the amount of Utrogestan you need to help everyone get through the shortfall Be organised about ordering your HRT prescriptions. Do it about two weeks before you run out so you have time in case you have any difficulties getting your supply or need to seek an alternative Reach out for help if you are struggling with your supply Click here for a balance article for more information about the current Utrogestan supply restrictions, plus alternatives. You can read more about Faiza here.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, I'm Dr. Louise Newsome and welcome to my podcast. I'm a GP and menopause specialist and I run the Newsome Health Menopause and Wellbeing Centre here in Stratford-Bron-Avon. I'm also the founder of the Menopause charity and the Menopause support app called Balance.
0:29.9	On the podcast, I will be joined each week by an exciting guest to help provide evidence-based
0:36.5	information and advice about both the perimenopause and the
0:40.9	menopause.
0:45.7	So today on the podcast I've got someone called Pfizer-Kennedy, who is one of the few people
0:51.0	that I do on my podcast.
0:52.0	I actually know and I've seen in real life, which is wonderful because so many of my guests
0:56.2	are not people that I've ever met in real life.
0:58.8	But Pfizer works very closely.
1:01.2	She's one of our most senior pharmacists and I'm very grateful for all her work.
1:05.7	So I thought today I would quiz her a bit about what's it like being a pharmacist in the menopause
1:12.0	world and also to talk about some of the HRT shortages, which as many of you know are ongoing
1:17.8	and incredibly frustrating. So welcome, Pfizer. Thanks for coming today. Thank you. Thank you for having
1:23.3	me. So when we first met, I think you'd emailed me and we were sort of pen pals for a while,
1:29.5	weren't we? And then you came and sat in the clinic.
1:32.0	Yes. So actually, I heard you being interviewed on the oral apothecary podcast, which is one of
1:38.2	my favourite podcasts and actually hosted by three of my really good friends, Jamie Paul and Steve.
1:43.8	And I heard you on this podcast,
1:46.0	and I thought, my goodness, I have to meet this woman and forced Jamie to introduce us. And then
1:52.7	stalked you by email and you invited me up to the clinic, which was lovely. And then, yes, a year on,
1:58.5	I'm still here and I love it.
2:00.9	Which is great.
	...

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