Estradot 是受影响的产品之一，是英国持续时间第二长的单一药品短缺。摄影：Nicola K photos/Alamy 查看全屏图片 Estradot 是受影响的产品之一，是英国持续时间第二长的单一药品短缺。摄影：Nicola K photos/Alamy 解析 英国激素替代疗法短缺：哪些产品受影响以及应对措施 专家表示，寻找能够以相同方式提供相同雌激素剂量的替代方案是关键。
Estradot, one of the products affected, is the second longest running individual medicine shortage in the UK. Photograph: Nicola K photos/AlamyView image in fullscreenEstradot, one of the products affected, is the second longest running individual medicine shortage in the UK. Photograph: Nicola K photos/AlamyExplainerUK HRT shortages: which products are affected and what to do about itExperts say seeking alternatives that deliver the same dose of oestrogen by the same method is keyWomen in the UK are again facing shortages of some HRT products, with warnings they could persist for weeks.
英国的女性再次面临某些激素替代疗法产品的短缺，警告称这种情况可能持续数周。我们来看一下情况。什么是激素替代疗法？激素替代疗法广泛用于帮助女性缓解更年期症状。它有多种形式，从凝胶和喷雾到贴片、药片、乳霜和宫内系统。正如英国国家医疗服务体系所指出的，激素替代疗法通常涉及两种激素——雌激素和孕激素——用于替代女性在更年期期间流失的水平。
We take a look at the situation. What is HRT? Hormone replacement therapy is widely used to help women manage symptoms of menopause. It can take many forms, from gels and sprays to patches, pills, creams and intrauterine systems. As the NHS notes, HRT typically involves two hormones – oestrogen and progestogen – and replaces levels lost as women go through menopause.
这些激素可以分开使用，也可以在一种激素替代疗法中合并使用。接受过子宫切除手术的女性仅需使用含雌激素的激素替代疗法。根据英国国家医疗服务体系商务管理局（NHSBSA）的数据，2025-26 年，英格兰年龄在 40 岁及以上的近 200 万女性因更年期症状被处方使用激素替代疗法。然而，专家表示，获取途径存在差异，短缺问题一直存在。
These can be given separately or in a single type of HRT. Women who have had a hysterectomy only require oestrogen-containing HRT. According to the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), almost 2 million women in England aged 40 and above were prescribed HRT for menopause symptoms in 2025-26. Experts, however, say that access varies and shortages have been a problem.
哪些产品受到当前短缺的影响？根据卫生和社会护理部本周发布的药品供应通知，FemSeven Conti 贴片目前缺货，预计将持续至 11 月底。这些贴片含有雌二醇——一种雌激素——以及一种名为左炔诺孕酮的合成孕激素。此外，各种 Estradot 贴片——一种含有雌二醇的激素替代疗法——也出现短缺，情况预计将持续至 1 月。这并非首次出现激素替代疗法短缺，影响 Estradot 的供应问题已经持续较长时间。
Which items are affected by the current shortages? According to a medicine supply notification issued by the Department of Health and Social Care this week, FemSeven Conti patches are out of stock and are expected to remain so until late November. The patches contain estradiol – a type of oestrogen– and a synthetic progestogen called levonorgestrel. There are also shortages of various Estradot patches – a type of HRT that contains estradiol – and the situation is not expected to end until January. This is not the first time there have been HRT shortages, and the supply issues affecting Estradot have been long-lasting.
根据NHSBSA的说法，部分产品的短缺始于2024年12月。“当你找到一种能帮助你入睡、缓解潮热并让你感觉更像自己的HRT治疗方案时，被告知该药不可用会令人不安，”在线药房Curely的药剂师索比亚·卡西姆说。国家药剂师协会董事会成员萨哈尔·沙希德也表达了担忧。“我们对多种HRT产品短缺深感沮丧和担忧，其中Estradot短缺是英国持续时间第二长的单一药品短缺，”她说。
The shortages of some products began in December 2024, according to NHSBSA.“When you have found an HRT treatment that helps you sleep, manage hot flushes and feel more like yourself, being told it is unavailable can be unsettling,” said Sobia Qasim, a pharmacist at the online pharmacy Curely. Sehar Shahid, a member of the National Pharmacy Association’s board, also raised concerns. “We are deeply frustrated and concerned by shortages to a number of HRT products, with shortages of Estradot being the second longest running individual medicine shortage in the UK,” she said.“Certain HRT products are specialised and cannot always be easily substituted for an alternative.”
“某些HRT产品具有专门性，并不总能轻易替换为替代品。”有哪些替代方案？根据FemSeven Conti的通知，替代贴剂包括Evorel Conti、Estradot Conti 30/95和Estradot Conti 40/130。这些贴剂含有雌二醇和一种名为诺孕酮的不同类型合成孕激素，使用频率为每周两次而非一次。性与生殖健康顾问、英国更年期学会前主席保拉·布里格斯表示，保持相同剂量的雌二醇是关键。
What alternatives are there? According to the FemSeven Conti notification, alternative patches include Evorel Conti, Estradot Conti 30/95 and Estradot Conti 40/130. These contain estradiol and a different type of synthetic progestogen called norethisterone, and are used twice rather than once a week. Paula Briggs, a consultant in sexual and reproductive health and a former chair of the British Menopause Society, said keeping the same dose of estradiol was the important aspect.
“它们含有不同的孕激素，但我认为这不会对症状控制产生任何不利影响，”她表示，并指出孕激素是用于保护子宫内膜而非管理症状。Estradot产品的严重短缺协议也列出了替代方案，例如由Estraderm MX和Evorel生产的含雌二醇贴剂。
“They have different progestogens, but I do not think that that would have any adverse impact on symptom control,” she said, noting progestogens are required to protect the lining of the womb rather than manage symptoms. Serious shortage protocols for the Estradot products also list alternatives, such as estradiol-containing patches by Estraderm MX and Evorel.
“如果我们使用相同剂量的雌激素，并通过类似的贴片经皮肤给药，那么其实完全没有必要担心，”布里格斯说道。如果女性受到药物短缺的影响，应该怎么做呢？沙希德表示，那些日常激素替代疗法（HRT）受到干扰的人应该与自己的临床医生沟通，而卡西姆则警告不要将贴片保留超过规定时间、不要剪开贴片，也不要从他人那里借用激素替代疗法药物。
“If we’re using the same dose of oestrogen delivered in a similar patch through the skin, really there is no need to worry,” said Briggs. What should women do if they are affected by the shortages? Shahid said people who had experienced disruption to their usual HRT regime should speak to their clinician, while Qasim cautioned against leaving a patch on for longer than prescribed, cutting patches up or borrowing HRT treatments from others.
接下来需要采取什么措施呢？布里格斯表示，未来很可能还会出现药物短缺的情况，“因为每年的使用量都在增长超过10%。”沙希德敦促政府采取行动。“新任国务卿应该召集一个特别工作组，全面理解这一问题，并将供应链的各个环节整合起来，”她说道。
What needs to happen next? Briggs said shortages were likely to occur in the future “because year on year we’re seeing a more than 10% increase in use”, she said. Shahid urged the government to take action. “The new secretary of state should convene a taskforce to fully grasp this issue, bringing together all aspects of the supply chain,” she said.