The Spanish medicines agency AEMPS warned on 2 October of ongoing supply problems with transdermal hormone therapies. The cause is the shortage of the estradiol-containing spray Lenzetto 1.52 mg/dose. According to the agency, a sudden increase in demand has made the situation worse; alternative forms such as gels and patches are now also in short supply in some parts of the country.
People affected report that typical menopausal symptoms quickly return when treatment is interrupted: hot flushes, night sweats, sleep problems and headaches. Such relapses are medically documented when Estradiol has to be stopped abruptly. According to media reports, patients, including trans people, describe travelling long distances to pharmacies and searching for remaining stocks. A person affected from Cuenca said they had submitted a petition to the Ministry of Health These accounts are based on individual reports and cannot be generalised without qualification.
Professional associations and pharmaceutical associations advise against blanket switches between medicines. AEMPS stresses that transdermal systems are not pharmacologically interchangeable without a doctor’s decision. Patients with a uterus also need a progestogen; shortages of these medicines too can raise safety concerns. Doctors should assess the benefits and risks individually and closely supervise any change.
Several autonomous communities are considering short-term relief measures. Regional authorities say pharmacies could prepare compounded medicines or temporarily increase the availability of certain gels. Manufacturers say they are increasing production; in some cases, a noticeable improvement is not expected until towards the end of 2026. AEMPS is not currently giving specific nationwide delivery dates.
The background is a strained European market for transdermal estradiol products. Demand, supply-chain problems and limited production capacity are interacting. In Spain AEMPS and the health authorities are coordinating further measures to close gaps in supply and prioritise particularly vulnerable groups. According to the authorities, these include patients with severe symptoms or pre-existing conditions for whom a supervised change of treatment is medically necessary.
Until supplies return to normal, experts recommend not changing prescribed doses without medical advice, not switching to alternatives without consultation and checking availability through pharmacy networks. The authorities say they will provide regular updates on developments and interim measures.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).