Availability of hormone replacement therapy products in Canada

To determine the availability in Canada of different types of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products, and to compare the availability of HRT products in Canada to their availability in other countries.

A systematic review was conducted of the availability of products indicated for treatment of menopausal symptoms in Canada, the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), Sweden, and Australia. Products indicated for the treatment of menopausal symptoms were determined for each country by using on-line drug product databases. Products administered by injection and androgen products, unless combined with estrogens, were excluded from the analysis.

There were 111 different brands identified in the 5 countries examined, with Canada having the lowest number of brands and active ingredients (28 and 22, respectively) compared to the other countries (Sweden and UK at 67 and 47 brands and 39 and 40 active ingredients, respectively). Not available in Canada are 34 active ingredients (either alone or in combination products) and 5 different types of formulations of HRT. There was a significant difference between the number of combination brand products available in Canada and in the UK (5 versus 29, P <.001, respectively).

Canadian women have comparatively few options available to them for the management of menopausal symptoms. The wide range of HRT products available in other developed countries provides alternatives for managing side