New Zealand Launches Menopause Training Course as MHT Demand Surges and Supply Is Temporarily Rationed
Updated
Updated · The Conversation · Jun 8
New Zealand Launches Menopause Training Course as MHT Demand Surges and Supply Is Temporarily Rationed
2 articles · Updated · The Conversation · Jun 8
Summary
New Zealand has developed a short online menopause-care course for nurses, nurse practitioners and doctors, plus new medical-student content, to address gaps in clinicians’ ability to discuss symptoms and prescribe treatment.
Demand for menopause hormone therapy has risen so sharply that manufacturers could not keep up and Pharmac temporarily rationed supplies, driven by stronger confidence in treatment and more open discussion of menopause.
18-year follow-up from the Women’s Health Initiative and newer studies have helped shift practice back toward wider use of body-identical hormones, including transdermal estradiol and progesterone, after the 2002 trial chilled prescribing.
Research and education gaps remain: New Zealand lacks current data on who uses MHT and what women need, while evidence is thin for perimenopause and contemporary regimens affected by recent shortages.
The push aligns with New Zealand’s 2023 women’s health strategy, but women still report being dismissed by health professionals, underscoring calls for more funded MHT options and local research.
As MHT demand surges past supply, are New Zealand's doctors equipped to manage this new era of menopause care?
Beyond the clinic, what is the economic cost of untreated menopause on New Zealand's workforce and community?
New Zealand’s Menopausal Hormone Therapy Crisis: Causes, Impacts, and Urgent Solutions for 2026 and Beyond
Overview
From April 2026, New Zealand faced a major crisis as Pharmac began rationing Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) due to a sharp increase in global demand. This shortage quickly became severe, creating significant challenges for women needing treatment and the healthcare professionals supporting them. The crisis was driven by a worldwide surge in women seeking MHT, which put pressure on global suppliers and regulators who struggled to keep up with demand. As a result, New Zealand’s reliance on international supply chains led to local shortages and urgent calls for better solutions and expanded treatment options.