U.S. — Prescriptions for estrogen patches increased from approximately 594,000 in June 2024 to 1.6 million in May 2026, according to HealthVerity nationwide data. The FDA removed a “black box warning” from many hormone replacement therapy products in February 2024, a regulatory change that preceded the surge in prescription volume.

The FDA posted an update stating it was aware of reports that patients were experiencing difficulty accessing medication due to increased demand. The agency stated that although availability for certain products or brands varies by pharmacy or location, estradiol transdermal patches remain available. "The FDA views increased interest in menopause treatment as an important development for women's health and is working closely with manufacturers to help ensure that the supply of estradiol patches keeps pace with demand."

The FDA stated it continuously monitors supply and offers assistance to manufacturers seeking to increase production. The agency recommends patients contact their healthcare providers and pharmacists to find where they can access estradiol transdermal patches or to find alternative options if their usual medication is unavailable.

Why It Matters

The discrepancy between the FDA's federal database and independent tracking by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists shows a gap in how drug availability is measured during periods of rapid demand growth. With prescriptions more than doubling in two years, the exclusion of estradiol patches from the federal shortage list means manufacturers and distributors may not receive the regulatory incentives or visibility associated with formal shortage designations.

Patient experiences, such as those reported by Diane Harris and others in the National Partnership for Women & Families survey, indicate that statistical availability does not always translate to local access. The push by Democratic lawmakers and medical professionals like Dr. Suzanne Hackenmiller, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Arkansas, seeks to align federal reporting with real-time market conditions to ensure that supply chain interventions occur before patients face significant barriers to care.

Timeline

February 2024: The FDA removed a “black box warning” from many hormone replacement therapy products. June 2024: Prescriptions for estrogen patches stood at approximately 594,000. May 2026: Prescriptions for estrogen patches reached 1.6 million.

What's New

Diane Harris, a Los Angeles resident, was one of at least 12 patients who reported difficulty accessing estradiol patches in a survey conducted by the National Partnership for Women & Families in 2026. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) reported that 14 brands or dosages of estradiol patches were listed as in shortage as of January 2026, with 7 of those being unavailable in at least 25% of pharmacies nationwide. In 2025, the FDA's Drug Shortage Database included 347 drugs in shortage, but estradiol patches were not among them, despite reports of supply issues from pharmacists and patients. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists has included 14 brands or dosages of the patches on its drug shortage list since January 2026. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution in 2024 urging the FDA to improve transparency around drug shortages, particularly for medications used in women’s health, such as hormone therapy products.

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on the classification of estradiol patches in the drug shortage database. A group of Democratic members of the U.S. House urged the FDA to add estradiol patches to the agency's federal drug shortage database, while debbiedingell.house.gov notes that in 2025, the FDA's Drug Shortage Database included 347 drugs in shortage, but estradiol patches were not among them, despite reports of supply issues from pharmacists and patients.

Sources also differ on the status of the drug shortage itself. Conversely, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists active drug shortage list indicates that the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists lists more than a dozen estradiol patch products on its active drug shortage list.

There is a difference regarding the implication of the term but estradiol. The FDA public update states that the FDA recommends patients contact their healthcare providers and pharmacists to find where they can access estradiol transdermal patches or to find alternative options if their usual medication is unavailable.