Record 2 million women receive NHS HRT prescribing in England

A new report published by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) shows that a record 2 million women aged 40 and over in England received NHS HRT prescribing in 2025/26, up from 0.8 million in 2020/21.

HRT is a treatment to relieve symptoms of the menopause. It replaces hormones that are at a lower level during perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause.

While HRT prescribing has increased in women aged 40 and over, the data highlights that prescribing rates vary by area deprivation, geography and age. In 2025/26:

• 8.8% of women aged 40 and over received NHS HRT prescribing in the 20% most deprived areas.
• 14.2% of women aged 40 and over received NHS HRT prescribing in less deprived areas.
• women in rural areas are also more likely to receive NHS HRT prescribing than those in urban areas.
• the growth in NHS HRT prescribing is highest in women aged 40 to 49.
• at Integrated Care System level, NHS North East London has the lowest rate of NHS HRT prescribing at 8 per 100 women aged 40 and over, while NHS Surrey and Sussex has the highest at 17 per 100 women.
• at local authority level, Newham has the lowest rate of NHS HRT prescribing at 4 per 100 women aged 40 and over, while Brighton and Hove has the highest level at 23 per 100 women.
• transdermal products (applied to the skin) remain the most commonly prescribed form of oestrogen HRT across all populations, while the use of oral oestrogen products (taken as tablets) declined.

The report provides insights by age, deprivation, region, Integrated Care System, Primary Care Network, Local Authority and medication type.

Patients can purchase an HRT Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) for a one-off payment of £19.80 to cover NHS prescription charges for an unlimited number of certain HRT medicines for 12 months. Without an HRT PPC, each item on an NHS prescription costs £9.90. HRT PPCs can be purchased at: NHS Hormone Replacement Therapy Prescription Prepayment Certificate (HRT PPC) | NHSBSA

To view the HRT Inequalities report, visit: https://nhsbsadata.shinyapps.io/hrt-inequalities-latest/

Source: NHS Business Services Authority

Image: Canva

Staff Writer