The Good News: There Are Effective Alternatives
The estrogen in your patch is estradiol, which is the same hormone the ovaries make. Estradiol is available in several other FDA-approved forms that work just as well when the patch is unavailable. If you cannot get your patch, please contact us before stopping your hormone therapy so we can help you switch safely.
Alternatives your clinician may recommend include:
- Estradiol gel (for example, EstroGel, Divigel, Elestrin) — applied to the skin once daily.
- Estradiol spray (Evamist) — applied to the skin once daily.
- Oral estradiol tablets — taken by mouth once daily.
- Estradiol vaginal ring (Femring) — a systemic ring changed every 90 days that treats hot flashes and night sweats (this is different from low-dose vaginal estrogen, which treats vaginal symptoms only).
- A different brand or dose of patch — sometimes another manufacturer’s patch is in stock when your usual one is not.
Like the patch, gels and sprays are absorbed through the skin and avoid processing by the liver, which is one reason the patch is often preferred. Your clinician can match your patch dose to an equivalent dose of another product.
Important Points When Switching
- Do not stop your hormone therapy on your own. Stopping suddenly can cause hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep problems to return.
- If you have a uterus, you must continue taking your progesterone or progestin along with any estrogen product to protect the lining of the uterus. Do not stop this medication.
- It may take a few weeks to adjust to a new formulation, and doses may need fine-tuning.
- Report any new vaginal bleeding or spotting to us promptly.
- Please avoid compounded “bioidentical” hormones as a substitute. FDA-approved products are preferred because they have consistent, verified dosing and safety standards.
How to Reach Us
If your pharmacy cannot fill your estrogen patch, please call our office at [PHONE NUMBER] or send a message through the patient portal. We can send a new prescription for an alternative to your pharmacy, adjust your dose, and answer your questions. You do not need to run out of medication before contacting us — reach out as soon as you learn of a problem so we can act in time.
We appreciate your patience during these shortages and remain committed to keeping your menopause care on track.