Doctors warn on the testosterone boom as HRT patch shortages drag on.
A week that touched every corner of private health: testosterone, menopause, weight-loss access in Scotland and a new oral weight-loss tablet moving through Europe.
Two senior doctors used the BMJ to warn that social media is pushing young men towards testosterone they may not need, just as NHS prescriptions for it have climbed by more than half in four years. Women on HRT patches faced a fresh shortage, with FemSeven Conti out of stock until late November and Estradot problems now close to two years old. In Scotland, a BBC investigation found that only 705 people have received weight-loss jabs on the NHS. Taken together, the week showed demand for private treatment running well ahead of the NHS in men's health, women's health and weight loss alike.
Doctors warn young men against the testosterone trend
Writing in the BMJ, Professor Eric Kilpatrick of Wythenshawe Hospital and Professor Stephen Atkin of RCSI Medical University of Bahrain warned that fitness influencers on Instagram and TikTok are encouraging young men to take testosterone. They pointed to a 52% rise in NHS testosterone prescriptions between 2020/21 and 2024/25. Private prescriptions are not counted nationally, so the real increase is likely to be higher.
The doctors say some commercial testing companies claim up to 30% of men over 40 have low testosterone, while clinical data suggests the true figure for genuine deficiency in men aged 40 to 79 is closer to 2%. They listed heart problems, blood clots, kidney problems, reduced fertility and mood changes among the risks, and said a reliable diagnosis needs repeated blood tests. Private subscriptions covering monitoring, consultations and medicine typically cost between £100 and £375 a month.
If you are thinking about testosterone treatment, expect a good clinic to test you more than once, at the right time of day, before prescribing anything. Be wary of any service that diagnoses low testosterone from a single result or a symptom quiz, and ask how they will monitor you over time.
New HRT patch shortage as Estradot problems near two years
The Department of Health and Social Care issued a notice on 12 October saying FemSeven Conti patches are out of stock until late November 2026. Evorel Conti, Estradot Conti 30/95 and Estradot Conti 40/130 remain available as alternatives.
Separately, Serious Shortage Protocols for Estradot patches, first issued in December 2024, were extended again on 2 October and now run to 8 January 2027. Under those protocols a pharmacist can supply Evorel or Estraderm MX at the same strength, but only if you agree. The National Pharmacy Association says Estradot and Creon are now the longest-running medicine shortages on record. The news landed in Menopause Awareness Month, with World Menopause Day on 18 October.
If your usual patch is unavailable, don't switch or stop on your own. Ask your pharmacist what they can supply under the shortage protocol, or speak to your GP or menopause clinic about an alternative that suits you.
Only 705 Scots have had weight-loss jabs on the NHS
Freedom of information requests by BBC Scotland found that 705 patients had received weight-loss injections on the NHS by September 2026, even though the medicines have been approved for weight loss in Scotland since 2023 and 2024. Only five of the 14 health boards offer them for weight loss, all as small pilots with strict criteria, including a BMI of 40 or above.
Simple Online Pharmacy estimates that more than 300,000 people in Scotland get the same medicines privately. Dr Mark Strachan, president of the Royal College of Physicians, called the lack of progress on NHS access unacceptable. Public Health Minister Maree Todd said individual health boards decide how the medicines are made available.
If you live in Scotland, NHS access depends heavily on your health board and is limited to people with severe obesity and related conditions for now. Private treatment is widely available but you pay the full cost, so compare the price over several months, not just the first.
European regulator backs Foundayo, two months after the UK
The European Medicines Agency's human medicines committee recommended Eli Lilly's once-daily weight-loss tablet Foundayo (orforglipron) on 16 October, for weight management and type 2 diabetes in adults. The European Commission usually confirms these opinions within a few weeks.
The UK got there first. The MHRA authorised Foundayo on 10 August 2026 for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 to 30 with a weight-related condition. It is available privately but not yet on the NHS, and NICE has a provisional date of 18 November for its guidance.
Nothing changes for UK patients this week. The date to watch is NICE's decision in November, which will shape whether the tablet becomes available on the NHS.
Women's health
- Menopause Awareness Month continued, with World Menopause Day on 18 October and NHS Inform publishing new films on HRT options, risks and benefits.
- Estradot shortage protocols now run to 8 January 2027, with no recovery date given by the Department of Health.
Blood testing and diagnostics
- NHS Cancer Programme opened a fourth innovation call through SBRI Healthcare on 19 October, worth up to £5 million, for new screening, case-finding and diagnostic tools that find cancer earlier. Applications close on 1 December.
Weight loss and the NHS
- NICE has a provisional publication date of 18 November 2026 for its guidance on orforglipron for obesity. The date can move.
We found no new UK stories on hair loss or erectile dysfunction from the past seven days, so those areas are skipped this week.
Medical disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Speak to a qualified clinician before starting or changing any treatment.
Sources
- The Mirror via AOL: Testosterone health warning following surge in young men (14 October 2026)
- The Pharmaceutical Journal: the rise of testosterone replacement therapy
- UK Fact Check: Estradot shortage nears two years as FemSeven Conti also runs out (15 October 2026)
- Femtech World: Women warned against self-medicating during HRT shortage
- BBC News via Yahoo: Fewer than 800 Scots have received weight loss jabs on NHS (15 October 2026)
- Pharmaceutical Executive: EMA panel backs Lilly's Foundayo
- MHRA: UK first in Europe to authorise orforglipron
- NICE: orforglipron for managing overweight and obesity (in development)
- HTN: £5 million cancer innovation programme open call launches (19 October 2026)
