Sobia Qasim, pharmacist at Curely, explains how to arrange an alternative and why women should avoid making their remaining patches last longer without advice.
Women using FemSeven Conti HRT patches are being urged to contact their pharmacist before their supply runs out, after a medicine supply notification confirmed the product is out of stock until late November 2026.
The notification, issued on 12 October by the Department of Health and Social Care and published by Community Pharmacy England, affects FemSeven Conti patches containing estradiol 50 micrograms and levonorgestrel 7 micrograms per 24 hours. Alternative HRT products remain available.
Sobia Qasim, pharmacist at Curely, says women concerned about their next prescription should seek advice early.
“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.
The first step is to speak to your pharmacist while you still have some treatment left. Tell them exactly which product you use and when you will run out, so there is time to check supplies and arrange a suitable alternative if needed.”
Check the full name on your box
Sobia advises having the packaging, a photograph of the dispensing label or a current repeat prescription available when contacting a pharmacy.
“Give the full product name and strength, how often you change your patch and how many patches you have left. Mention any other hormones you take separately, including progesterone capsules.
Similar-sounding names can refer to different treatments. Knowing precisely what you use helps the pharmacist check the right product and give useful advice.”
An alternative may need a new prescription
The supply notification identifies other combined patches that remain available, including Evorel Conti and certain Estradot Conti preparations. However, choosing a replacement requires consideration of the individual’s treatment and medical history.
Sobia explains: “Your pharmacist can check availability and help you understand the next step. A change may need to be agreed with your GP or HRT prescriber and require a new prescription.
“FemSeven Conti contains both oestrogen and a progestogen. An oestrogen-only patch is not a straightforward replacement. For most women who still have a womb, the progestogen is needed to protect the womb lining.
If you are given a different product, check when to start it, how often to change it and whether you need any separate medication. Do not assume the instructions will be the same.”
Do not try to stretch out your remaining patches
Sobia says women should avoid changing their treatment schedule themselves because they are worried about running out.
“Leaving a patch on for longer than prescribed, cutting patches or skipping changes is not a reliable way to manage a shortage. Speak to your pharmacist or prescriber about a plan instead.
If you have already run out, tell them that clearly. Do not borrow someone else’s HRT or try to work out an equivalent dose yourself.”
Stopping HRT can allow menopause symptoms to return. NHS advice is to speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the usual brand or type is unavailable because of supply shortages.
Taking Mounjaro or Wegovy? Mention it before changing HRT
Women using weight-loss injections should also tell their HRT prescriber before switching treatment.
British Menopause Society guidance highlights a potential concern about the absorption of oral progestogens when used alongside semaglutide or tirzepatide, which slow stomach emptying. Direct evidence about the effect on HRT remains limited. Combined HRT patches deliver hormones through the skin and are not expected to be affected in the same way.
Sobia adds:
“If you use Mounjaro or Wegovy, mention it when discussing an HRT alternative, particularly if the proposed treatment includes progesterone or progestogen tablets or capsules.
This does not mean you should stop either treatment. It means your prescriber needs to review the combination and make sure your HRT remains appropriate. Let them know about any new or unexpected vaginal bleeding too.”
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