Patch Shortages

There are a number of MHTs that are currently unavailable. Please note that the TGA has approved some unregistered products under Section 19A and some substitute doses are currently in supply in Australia. Pharmacists are encouraged to contact suppliers Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd on 1300 788 261 for orders of Estramon and Sandoz on 1800 726 369 for orders of Estradiol Transdermal System.

Oestradiol patches

Combined patches

All doses of Climara have been deleted from the market and there will be a reduction in supply until supply is exhausted.

The provides a guideline to approximately equivalent doses of the different MHT/HRT products in Australia.

New Zealand

As at 14^th April 2025, patch availability is provided below.

More information can be found   

Patch Shortages

There are a number of MHTs that are currently unavailable. Please note that the TGA has approved some unregistered products under Section 19A and some substitute doses are currently in supply in Australia. Pharmacists are encouraged to contact suppliers Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd on 1300 788 261 for orders of Estramon and Sandoz on 1800 726 369 for orders of Estradiol Transdermal System.

Oestradiol patches

Combined patches

All doses of Climara have been deleted from the market and there will be a reduction in supply until supply is exhausted.

The provides a guideline to approximately equivalent doses of the different MHT/HRT products in Australia.

New Zealand

As at 11 December 2024, patch availability is provided below.

More information can be found   

Patch Shortages

There are a number of MHTs that are currently unavailable. Please note that the TGA has approved some unregistered products under Section 19A and some substitute doses are currently in supply in Australia. Pharmacists are encouraged to contact suppliers Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd on 1300 788 261 for orders of Estramon and Sandoz on 1800 726 369 for orders of Estradiol Transdermal System.

Oestradiol patches

Combined patches

All doses of Climara have been deleted from the market and there will be a reduction in supply until supply is exhausted.

The provides a guideline to approximately equivalent doses of the different MHT/HRT products in Australia.

New Zealand

As at 11 December 2024, patch availability is provided below.

More information can be found   

Menopause therapy subsidies break 20-year drought¹

Australian women suffering from the debilitating symptoms of menopause will have access to the first new kind of menopausal hormone therapy to be subsidised by the Federal Government in more than two decades.

From 1 March, three menopausal hormone therapies – Estrogel^® Pro (estradiol / progesterone), Estrogel^® (estradiol) and Prometrium^® (progesterone) – will become available through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to help alleviate menopausal symptoms women who have reached menopause.¹

Currently, more than 100,000 Australian women are paying privately for these medicines.² Without the subsidy, women could pay around $650 per year for modern menopause therapy, depending on individual pharmacy pricing. Under the PBS, eligible patients will pay just $7.70 (pension and concession card holders) or up to $31.60 (general patients) each month for Estrogel Pro, Estrogel or Prometrium.³

The new subsidies follow:

• The 2024 Parliamentary Inquiry into Menopause and Perimenopause recommendation that newer forms of menopause therapies be subsidised through the PBS to bolster supply and “ensure appropriate access and lowered costs for all women who need it”;⁴
• Therapeutic Goods Administration advice that supply shortages of currently PBS-listed menopausal treatment options will persist throughout 2025, and that prescribing those therapies for new patients should be limited to “help preserve available supply for existing patients”.⁵

The funding move is being welcomed by women’s health experts, including Dr Sonia Davison, Endocrinology Lead at the Jeans Hailes Clinic, who said: “This is wonderful news that will make a meaningful difference to the lives of countless Australian women”.

“This decision acknowledges the impact of menopause on women's lives and ensures they have access to modern treatment without a sizeable cost burden,” she said.

“For far too long, menopausal women have had their experiences dismissed and faced barriers to accessing affordable treatment options.”

One in four women experience severe or prolonged menopausal symptoms that affect their quality of life and may require treatment.⁶

“While menopause is a normal and natural part of ageing, it’s important that women realise that the symptoms affecting their quality of life are very treatable,” Dr Davison said. “They should not suffer in silence”.

“Too often, menopause is dismissed as simply hot flushes or moodiness. The reality is that, for some women, the dramatic drop in hormone levels can cause a raft of symptoms that may last for years.” 

Menopause describes the natural stage of a woman's life when her menstrual period permanently stops. It is caused by a drop in reproductive hormones – especially estrogen – that can begin many years earlier, during a phase known as perimenopause.⁷

Menopause hormone therapies such as Estrogel Pro, Estrogel and Prometrium help to replace the hormones lost by the body, to bring them back up to premenopausal levels, thereby reducing symptoms that may interfere with daily life.^8,9

Menopause, which typically sets in around the age of 51,¹⁰ can lead to hot flushes, night sweats, sleep deprivation, muscle and joint pain, mood changes and increased irritability, brain fog, and decreased concentration and executive function. Symptoms typically last for around seven years.¹¹

“There’s a reason that menopause is known as ‘the change of life’. It really can be life-altering and can impact almost every aspect of a woman’s life – from her sense of self, physical and mental wellbeing, to relationships and even her ability to work,” said Dr Davison.

Research shows that more than two-thirds (69 per cent) of Australian women aged 45-64 who had reached menopause have been troubled by menopausal symptoms. For more than 40 per cent of these women, the symptoms made daily activities difficult.¹²

“Sadly, for some women, the physical and psychological symptoms of menopause can be debilitating and completely overwhelming,” said Dr Davison.

“In 2025, menopause should not be overlooked or taboo. We must all understand that while menopause is normal, the discomfort, poor health and reduced quality of life often caused by menopause are not unavoidable consequences of ageing.”

SANDRENA® estradiol gel 0.1% 0.5g dose joined the SANDRENA 1.0g dose on the PBS from the 1^st November 2024. The 0.5g sachet allows for more accurate dose modification across the three TGA registered doses of 0.5mg, 1.0mg and 1.5mg Sandrena estradiol 0.1% gel¹. 

Women with a healthcare card pay $7.70 monthly for the medium dose of 1.0g sachet and the lower dose of 0.5g sachet. Non-concessional card holders continue to pay less than $20 per month for the 1.0g sachet and less than $15 per box for the 0.5g sachet. SANDRENA allows the flexibility to combine with the preferred form of progestogen in non-hysterectomised women¹.

Supply of some Australian-registered HRT patch products will remain very limited in 2025². The TGA asks prescribers to …”please consider these shortages when initiating new patients on HRT transdermal patches. Limiting initiations in this shortage period will help preserve available supply for existing patients”^2..

From 1^st March 2025 all Estradiol Transdermal gels will be PBS listed.  

Further information on Sandrena is available in the .

Patch Shortages

There are a number of MHTs that are currently unavailable. Please note that the TGA has approved some unregistered products under Section 19A and some substitute doses are currently in supply in Australia. Pharmacists are encouraged to contact suppliers Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd on 1300 788 261 for orders of Estramon and Sandoz on 1800 726 369 for orders of Estradiol Transdermal System.

Oestradiol patches

Combined patches

All doses of Climara have been deleted from the market and there will be a reduction in supply until supply is exhausted.

The provides a guideline to approximately equivalent doses of the different MHT/HRT products in Australia.

New Zealand

As at 11 December 2024, patch availability is provided below.

More information can be found   

Patch Shortages

There are a number of MHTs that are currently unavailable. Please note that the TGA has approved some unregistered products under Section 19A and some substitute doses are currently in supply in Australia. Pharmacists are encouraged to contact suppliers Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd on 1300 788 261 for orders of Estramon and Sandoz on 1800 726 369 for orders of Estradiol Transdermal System.

Oestradiol patches

Combined patches

All doses of Climara have been deleted from the market and there will be a reduction in supply until supply is exhausted.

The provides a guideline to approximately equivalent doses of the different MHT/HRT products in Australia.

New Zealand

As at 11 December 2024, patch availability is provided below.

More information can be found   

Patch Shortages

There are a number of MHTs that are currently unavailable. Please note that the TGA has approved some unregistered products under Section 19A and some substitute doses are currently in supply in Australia. Pharmacists are encouraged to contact suppliers Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd on 1300 788 261 for orders of Estramon and Sandoz on 1800 726 369 for orders of Estradiol Transdermal System.

Oestradiol patches

Combined patches

All doses of Climara have been deleted from the market and there will be a reduction in supply until supply is exhausted.

The provides a guideline to approximately equivalent doses of the different MHT/HRT products in Australia.

New Zealand

As at 21 November 2024, patch availability is provided below.

More information can be found   

Patch Shortages

There are a number of MHTs that are currently unavailable. Please note that the TGA has approved some unregistered products under Section 19A and some substitute doses are currently in supply in Australia. Pharmacists are encouraged to contact suppliers Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd on 1300 788 261 for orders of Estramon and Sandoz on 1800 726 369 for orders of Estradiol Transdermal System.

Oestradiol patches

Combined patches

All doses of Climara have been deleted from the market and there will be a reduction in supply until supply is exhausted.

The provides a guideline to approximately equivalent doses of the different MHT/HRT products in Australia.

New Zealand

As at 28^th October 2024, patch availability is provided below.

More information can be found   

Patch Shortages

There are a number of MHTs that are currently unavailable. Please note that the TGA has approved some unregistered products under Section 19A and some substitute doses are currently in supply in Australia. Pharmacists are encouraged to contact suppliers Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd on 1300 788 261 for orders of Estramon and Sandoz on 1800 726 369 for orders of Estradiol Transdermal System.

Oestradiol patches

Combined patches

All doses of Climara have been deleted from the market and there will be a reduction in supply until supply is exhausted.

The provides a guideline to approximately equivalent doses of the different MHT/HRT products in Australia.

New Zealand

As at 17^th September 2024, patch availability is provided below.

More information can be found   

Patch Shortages

There are a number of MHTs that are currently unavailable. Please note that the TGA has approved some unregistered products under Section 19A and some substitute doses are currently in supply in Australia. Pharmacists are encouraged to contact suppliers Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd on 1300 788 261 for orders of Estramon and Sandoz on 1800 726 369 for orders of Estradiol Transdermal System.

Oestradiol patches

Combined patches

All doses of Climara have been deleted from the market and there will be a reduction in supply until supply is exhausted.

The provides a guideline to approximately equivalent doses of the different MHT/HRT products in Australia.

Patch Shortages

There are a number of MHTs that are currently unavailable. Please note that the TGA has approved some unregistered products under Section 19A and some substitute doses are currently in supply in Australia.

Pharmacists are encouraged to contact suppliers Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd on 1300 788 261 for orders of Estramon and Sandoz on 1800 726 369 for orders of Estradiol Transdermal System.

Oestradiol patches

Combined patches

All doses of Climara have been deleted from the market and there will be a reduction in supply until supply is exhausted.

The provides a guideline to approximately equivalent doses of the different MHT/HRT products in Australia.

The AMS welcomes discussion of menopause and efforts to improve access to appropriate care. However, we have recently become aware of spurious claims being made about menopause and hormone therapy by some health professionals on social media and in opinion pieces. These claims are presented as mainstream expert opinion, but some of them do not accord with current evidence-based guidelines.

The concerning content includes:

• Promotion of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) for treatment of a wide variety of symptoms that may not be related to menopause.

• Promotion of MHT for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and dementia prevention for women at the usual age of menopause. This is not supported by evidence or current guidelines.

• Not using agreed definitions of the perimenopause, leading to patient treatment with MHT outside of accepted indications. Perimenopause is defined as beginning when menstrual cycle changes occur as per the STRAW +10 criteria.

• Promoting testosterone as a routine component of MHT and promoting testosterone for non-specific symptoms such as fatigue or ‘brain fog’, or to improve general wellbeing. The only evidence-based indication for testosterone currently is hypoactive sexual desire dysfunction in postmenopausal women. Evidence for testosterone to treat any other symptom or for disease prevention is lacking.

• Minimising risks of MHT and making overly simplified statements regarding the highly emotive area of MHT use and breast cancer risk. Much more research is needed before it can be said that any of the available forms of MHT are risk free with regards to breast cancer.

• Suggesting that breast cancer survivors can routinely be prescribed MHT. There are very occasional circumstances when women with breast cancer may be prescribed MHT but it should be a careful decision involving multidisciplinary discussion.

MHT is the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms and has a role in preventing osteoporosis and fracture. It can be offered to women who are medically eligible, along with an individualised discussion of the benefits and risks. AMS promotes a balanced, evidence-based discussion of the benefits and risks of hormone therapy.

Hysterectomy is one option for treating heavy menstrual bleeding, but there are a number of associated risks. Less invasive treatments are available, including oral medicines, the hormonal IUD and procedures like endometrial ablation. 

Key findings

The Women’s Health Focus Report found a 20% decrease nationally in the rate of hysterectomy between 2014-15 and 2021-22, and a 10% increase in the rate of the less invasive option of endometrial ablation (2013-16 and 2019-22).* 

However, the data indicate inconsistencies in care across the country. Rates for both procedures were consistently higher in regional areas than in major cities and remote areas. In 2021-22, the hysterectomy rate for First Nations women was 9% higher than for other Australian women.

Use the Report’s interactive maps and graphs to view hospitalisation rates and trends in your state or territory, PHN and local area. If substantial variation exists, investigate whether appropriate care is being delivered in line with the Standard. 

Download the Standard and implementation resources to learn more about best practice care and local improvement opportunities for women with heavy menstrual bleeding.

Patch Shortages

There are a number of MHTs that are currently unavailable. Please note that the TGA has approved some unregistered products under Section 19A and some substitute doses are currently in supply in Australia.

Pharmacists are encouraged to contact suppliers Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd on 1300 788 261 for orders of Estramon and Sandoz on 1800 726 369 for orders of Estradiol Transdermal System.

Oestradiol patches

Combined patches

All doses of Climara have been deleted from the market and there will be a reduction in supply until supply is exhausted.

The provides a guideline to approximately equivalent doses of the different MHT/HRT products in Australia.

The ��ݮ��Ƶ provided a letter of support to Pharmac in June 2022 supporting the funding of Utrogestan® for MHT as the endometrial protection agent when women require oestrogen for the treatment of menopausal symptoms in the perimenopausal time and also as part of hormone replacement therapy for premature ovarian insufficiency. Being a bioidentical progesterone, international opinion says that it is the safest progesterone to use with the lowest side effect profile. it is considered best practice to use this progesterone as it has a more favourable effect on lipid profiles and potentially less likely to impact on breast cancer risk. It has the additional advantage of having a soporific effect.

More information about the announcement can be found .

Content updated 26 September 2022

The App is to be launched by guest speaker, Professor Beverley Vollenhoven AM, former AMS board member, at an online event on March 7 2022, which will include expert speakers and a Q&A session. We hope that you and the women with early menopause you care for can join us.

Clinical A/Prof Amanda Vincent
Head of Early Menopause research, Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, Monash University
Endocrinologist, Menopause Clinic, Monash Health
AMS Past President

Breaking the Silence on Early Menopause594.87 KB 

Back in May, Sandoz, the supplier of Estradot and Estalis applied to delist these medications from the Pharmaceuticals Benefits Scheme (PBS) as they were not financially viable. The AMS in collaboration with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaeocologists (RANZCOG) and the Endocrine Society of Australia (ESA) wrote to Minister Hunt expressing our concern about access to Estradot and Estalis and the potential health outcomes if these medications were to be delisted from the PBS.

Following further discussions, Sandoz agreed to apply to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) for a price increase instead of delisting Estradot and Estalis from the PBS. Again, in collaboration with RANZCOG and ESA, AMS wrote a joint letter of support to PBAC for a price increase, rather than them being delisted from the PBS.

AMS is now happy to advise that the PBAC has agreed to the price increase for Estradot and Estalis from 1 October. This price increase means that these medications will remain on the PBS and support continuous and sustainable supply to the Australian market. While many women will need to pay more for these medications from 1 October, importantly, women on a healthcare card will only need to pay the concession price. A letter from Sandoz is attached for further information.

HCP Letter Estradot Estalis Sep 2021

Information for Doctors

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is advising health professionals and consumers of a current shortage for all strengths of PROGYNOVA estradiol valerate tablets. Due to manufacturing issues the shortage is expected to continue until May 2022.

PROGYNOVA tablets are used for short-term relief of symptoms associated with menopause.

The TGA has made a Serious Scarcity Substitution Instrument (SSSI) to assist patients in accessing their medicine from their pharmacist without delay, ensure treatments are not interrupted and relieve workload pressure on prescribers and pharmacists.

The SSSI is in force from 13 August 2021 until 1 May 2022. The TGA may, however, revoke the SSSI before its end date if the serious scarcity is resolved, or safety concerns are identified.

For more information see 

You should be alert to the current shortage of Progynova tablets when prescribing to your patients. Consider prescribing available estradiol-only tablets such as Estrofem and Zumenon tablet.

Zumenon is PBS-listed when prescribed but Estrofem is not.

Information for patients

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions regarding this substitution.

The pack size of estradiol-only tablets varies between brands. However, your pharmacist will supply the correct total dose that your doctor has prescribed.

If you have been prescribed Progynova 1mg or 2mg tablets and you receive a substitute medicine, your pharmacist will explain to you how to take your tablets.

If you are provided 2 mg tablets as a substitute for your usual 1 mg tablets, ask your pharmacist for advice on how to cut the tablets. If someone else is cutting the tablets for you, they may need to consider using personal protective equipment such as gloves and a mask to avoid unintended exposure to estradiol. Low dose of unintended exposure may cause harm or pose a risk of harm.

Oral MHT

Duavive – supply due to be resolved by end January 2022

Progynova 2mg – supply due to be resolved by end of April 2022

Femonston Conti – supply shortage expected between 25 June and 9 July

Transdermal MHT

Estradot 100 – supply due to be resolved by 31 August

Estradot 75 – supply due to be resolved by 31 August

Estradot 50 – supply due to be resolved by 1 July

Estradot 37.5 – supply due to be resolved by 31 August

Estradot 25 – supply due to be resolved by 1 July

Estalis Conti 50/140 – supply resolved

Estalis Conti 50/250 – supply resolved

Estalis Sequi 50/140 – supply resolved

Estalis Sequi 50/250 – supply resolved

Estraderm MX 50 – supply resolved

Estraderm MX 100 - supply resolved

Non-Hormonal Options

There is also an expected shortage of supply of non-hormonal treatment options:

Gabapentin-APOTEX 100mg – supply shortage expected between 20 August- 15 October

Gabapentin 300mg- supply shortage expected between 18 June- 16 July

APX-Gabapentin 300mg- supply shortage expected between 16 July- 6 August

Gabapentin-APOTEX 300mg – to be discontinued from 18 July

Combined oral contraceptive pill

There is also an expected shortage of combined oral contraceptive pill:

Qliara – supply due to be resolved by 1 June 2022

Please note that dates for supply have been sourced from either the pharmaceutical supplier or the TGA website and may change at any time.

Oral MHT

Duavive – supply due to be resolved by end January 2022 

Transdermal

Estradot 100 – supply due to be resolved by the end of March

Estradot 75 – supply due to be resolved by the end of April

Estradot 50 – supply due to be resolved by the end of March

Estradot 37.5 – supply due to be resolved by the end of March

Estradot 25 – supply due to be resolved by the end of April

Estalis Conti 50/140 - supply due to be resolved by early April

Estalis Conti 50/250 - supply due to be resolved by early April

Estalis Sequi 50/140 – supply due to be resolved by early May

Estalis Sequi 50/250 – supply due to be resolved by early May

Estraderm MX 50 – supply due to be resolved by end of April

Estraderm MX 100 - supply due to be resolved by end of April

Please note that dates for supply have been sourced from either the pharmaceutical supplier or the TGA website and may change at any time.

Sue was awarded the Australia Day Honour for distinguished service to medicine, to women's health as a clinical endocrinologist and researcher, and to medical education.

Many of you would know how tirelessly Sue has worked in women’s health and particularly in menopause education and research.

Congratulation Sue on your award, which is most deserving.