According to details obtained by Radio-Canada, the public drug insurance plan will reimburse estradiol-17B in the form of a topical gel and micronized progesterone. Minister of Health and Social Services Christian Dubé is to make the announcement on Wednesday.
Until now, these two hormones were found in the exception section of the List of Medications. Only women with significant risk factors or intolerances might be reimbursed.
According to data from the RAMQnearly 143,000 women had obtained reimbursement for hormonal treatments to counter the symptoms of menopause in 2020, including 13,600 for estradiol-17B in the form of a topical gel and nearly 9,000 for micronized progesterone.
A report broadcast at Investigation in March caused a stir by highlighting the marked decline in prescriptions over the years and the costs women face for bioidentical hormones.
A series of three episodes of the documentary Lot-Less with Véronique Cloutier broadcast in April had also generated a Loto-Méno petition for access to bio-identical hormone therapy, signed by more than 260,000 women.
Female hormone therapy is used to improve the physical, psychological and economic health of many women going through menopause or perimenopause.
A bioidentical hormone is a hormone that is made in a laboratory, but has the same molecular structure as hormones made by women’s bodies.
In the category of bioidentical hormones approved by Health Canada, there is micronized progesterone, which comes in tablet form, and estradiol, which comes in tablet, patch or gel form.
In the category of non-bioidentical hormones, there are among others conjugated equine estrogens made from mare’s urine and a progestin called medroxyprogesterone acetate.
According to data compiled by journalist Madeleine Roy from the show Investigationfor 20 years, in Quebec, the number of women who take hormones has dropped by 45% while the number of women of age to take them has increased by 43%.
A major study published in the early 2000s sparked a debate within the medical community regarding the increased risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease in women who take hormones.
With the collaboration of Michael Deetjens
