Sweden's estrogen shortage leaves menopausal women desperate

Maria Sveland arrived at a suburban pharmacy in a state of desperation, her appearance mirroring that of someone at an emergency room or recently dumped. The website indicated a "possible" few packages of estrogen spray remained. For a woman in menopause, "possible" is a word that drives extreme actions.

She had been trying to reduce her dosage, from three sprays to two, then to one. Now, each morning, she administers estrogen like rationed morphine in a war zone. Among her peers, a black market has emerged. Women in cultural, political, or leadership roles are more informed about the stock levels of Lenzetto than their pension statements. One friend traveled to Spain and returned with estrogen in her suitcase, as if smuggling contraband.

Another friend heard a pharmacy received a shipment that would last only twenty minutes. Someone else located a few packages in her old hometown, Umeå, and arranged for her sister to pick them up. A fourth suggested setting up online alerts, not for concert tickets or vacations, but for hormones. Lacking a sister in Umeå or the funds for a trip to Spain, Sveland resorted to online monitoring.

When the email finally arrived, her reaction was akin to receiving news of a donor heart. Having reduced her estrogen to a minimal dose, hot flashes returned, making her arrival at the distant pharmacy less than dignified: flushed, drenched, and in a foul mood. The hour-long train ride was spent trying to manage the physical and emotional toll.