Menopause Medication Rationed As Demand Outstrips Supply

Kate
Green , Health Correspondent

A national
shortage of progesterone pills has left perimenopausal and
menopausal women unable to collect their full
prescriptions.

Pharmac on its website said an increase
in demand and long lead times to manufacture the product
meant there was limited supply of the Utrogestan-branded
capsules.

One woman, who did not want to be named,
told RNZ she had been given eight tablets by her pharmacist
to get her through the next few days, but he was unable to
fulfill her entire script.

She said the medication
helped her with poor sleep, mood regulation and heavy
periods, and expected going without it would have a direct
impact “pretty quickly”.

Pharmac said people might
receive smaller supplies than usual “to ensure everyone can
continue to access this important treatment”.

It said
multiple shipments were arriving between March and mid-May
2026.

“It will take time for this stock to reach
pharmacies around New Zealand.”

The medication was not
included in Pharmac’s list
of shortages caused by the conflict
in the Middle East – the only one listed currently was
isosorbide mononitrate, used to prevent chest pain, and for
which a substitute was
available.

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