Hi friends! I have some tactical advice for you today if you happen to have heard about the estrogen patch shortage.
If you’ve been standing at a pharmacy counter lately hearing “out of stock,” you’re not alone. Two major manufacturers of estradiol patches are currently reporting shortages, and the causes appear to be a combination of supply chain disruptions, tariff impacts on overseas manufacturers, and a significant surge in demand.
That surge is no accident. In November 2025, the FDA removed its longstanding black box warning from menopausal hormone therapy products — a move that made HRT feel more accessible to both patients and prescribers. The result? HRT prescriptions have surged dramatically since 2021 — and production capacity simply hasn’t kept up.
So what do you do if your patch isn’t available?
– Try a different manufacturer. Not all brands are equally affected. Ask your pharmacist specifically what’s in stock — a once-weekly patch may be available even when twice-weekly options are not.
– Cut a larger dose patch in half. Some patches use an adhesive matrix design, which makes them safe to cut. Always check the packaging or ask your prescriber before doing this, as reservoir-style patches should not be cut.
– Switch to a gel or spray. Estradiol gel is applied daily to the skin and is often in better supply than patches. An estradiol spray is another option, applied to the forearm daily. Both are transdermal, so you keep the same liver-bypass benefits.
– Call independent pharmacies. Many women are finding that small independent pharmacies have stock when the big chains don’t.
The most important thing? Don’t just go without. Even short interruptions in estrogen therapy can bring back hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disruption, and mood changes. Talk to your provider — there are options.
I hope this helps! I have been getting this question lots recently, it helps to know what to do. I like to envision a world where estrogen replacement has just a robust a supply chain as the erection pills do! 😁
