Beginning May 26, the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) will facilitate access to two bio-identical hormones used to treat menopausal symptoms.
According to details obtained by Radio-Canada, the public drug insurance plan will return estradiol-17B in the form of a topical gel and micronized progesterone. Health and Social Services Minister Christian Dubé will make the announcement on Wednesday.
To date, these two hormones have been found in the exception section of the List of Drugs. Only women with significant risk factors or intolerance can be paid.
According to data from RAMQnearly 143,000 women received reimbursement for hormonal treatment to counteract menopausal symptoms by 2020, including 13,600 for estradiol-17B in topical gel form and nearly 9,000 for micronized progesterone.
A report broadcast on Investigation in March caused a stir by emphasizing the dramatic decline in prescriptions over the years and the costs women face for bioidentical hormones.
A three -episode documentary series Loto-Meno with a broadcast Véronique Cloutier in April also developed a Loto-Méno petition for access to bio-identical hormone therapy, which was 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.
Bioidentical hormone is a hormone produced in a laboratory, but has the same molecular structure as hormones produced by women’s bodies.
In the category of bioidentical hormones approved by Health Canada, there is micronized progesterone, which is in tablet form, and estradiol, which is in tablet, patch or gel form.
In the category of non-bioidentical hormones, there are other conjugated equine estrogens made from mare urine and a progestin called medroxyprogesterone acetate.
According to data gathered by journalist Madeleine Roy from the show Investigationwithin 20 years, in Quebec, the number of women taking hormones dropped by 45% while the number of women of that age taking them increased by 43%.
A major study published in the early 2000s sparked a debate within the medical community about the increased risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease in women taking hormones.
In collaboration with Michael Deetjens
Source: Radio-Canada
