FDA Update on Estradiol Transdermal Patch Availability
[9/3/2026] The FDA is aware of reports of patients having difficulty readily accessing their usual estradiol transdermal patches due to increased demand and is working with all six manufacturers to increase supply.
Although availability of certain products or brands may vary by pharmacy or location, estradiol transdermal patches remain available.
What is FDA doing to help increase supply?
The FDA continuously monitors supply and is offering assistance to manufacturers seeking to increase production, including expediting the review of submissions related to increasing supply when appropriate. Over the last year, the supply of FDA-approved estradiol transdermal patches has nearly doubled.
Manufacturers continue to take steps to make more patches available. These efforts include increasing production, adding manufacturing shifts, expanding production capacity, increasing batch sizes, adding specialized equipment and manufacturing lines, and prioritizing production of estradiol patches.
Some of these actions can help increase supply in the near term, while larger manufacturing expansions may take more time because transdermal patches require specialized equipment and manufacturing processes.
Why has demand increased?
More women have been seeking treatment for symptoms of menopause. Menopausal hormone therapies are FDA-approved to treat symptoms associated with menopause, including hot flashes and night sweats, and certain therapies are also approved to help prevent bone loss. Demand for these products increased following the November 2025 action by the FDA to request that manufacturers make changes to the labeling to remove boxed warnings about a probable risk of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, and probable dementia for patients receiving menopausal hormone therapy products for menopause. This labeling change provided women and their healthcare providers with updated information to support individualized discussions about the benefits and risks of menopausal hormone therapy.
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.
What should patients do?
If you are having trouble finding your usual estradiol transdermal patch:
Contact your pharmacist. Your pharmacist can check availability and may be able to help locate another available FDA-approved estradiol transdermal patch that can be substituted for your current product, when appropriate.
Talk with your healthcare provider. If your usual patch is not available, your healthcare provider can discuss available treatment options with you and whether another estradiol product may be appropriate for you.
Do not stop or change your medication without talking with your healthcare provider. If you are unable to obtain your usual medication, contact your healthcare provider for guidance about your treatment.
Check back with your pharmacy. Manufacturers are working to increase supply, and availability may change as additional products reach pharmacies.
FDA will continue monitoring supply
The FDA remains in regular contact with manufacturers and is closely monitoring the supply of estradiol transdermal patches. The agency will continue working with manufacturers to increase availability and support patient access as demand grows.
The FDA encourages patients to talk with their healthcare providers about the potential benefits and risks of menopausal hormone therapy and whether treatment is appropriate for their individual needs.