Trends in Government-Subsidised Menopausal Hormone Therapy Dispensing in Australia Between 2014 and 2023

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Pharmacology
• Public Health

Background:

• Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is a primary treatment for menopausal symptoms.
• International data suggest increasing MHT utilization, but Australian trends are not well-documented.
• Understanding MHT prescribing patterns is crucial for women's health management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in MHT dispensing in Australia between 2014 and 2023.
• To identify changes in the prevalence of different MHT formulations (oral, transdermal, vaginal, IUD).
• To provide an updated overview of MHT use in Australian women aged 45-64.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a 10% random sample of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) data.
• Analyzed dispensing data for women aged 45-64 years from 2014 to 2023.
• Calculated the relative annual change in MHT dispensing prevalence for overall use and specific formulations.

Main Results:

• Overall MHT dispensing prevalence remained stable, with a relative annual change of 0.42%.
• Significant increases were observed in transdermal MHT (5.89% annual change) and intrauterine device (IUD) MHT (10.22% annual change).
• Vaginal MHT showed a decrease (-1.47% annual change), while oral MHT remained relatively stable (0.66% annual change).

Conclusions:

• Menopausal hormone therapy dispensing in Australia has shown stable overall use in the decade studied.
• There is a clear shift towards transdermal and IUD MHT formulations, with a decline in vaginal MHT.
• These findings enhance understanding of contemporary MHT prescribing patterns in Australia.