If you’re searching for when the estrogen patch will be back in stock, we have no restock date for you. Your pharmacy is the fastest place to get one. Use the wait to decide whether a patch is the right form for you.
Is the estrogen patch back in stock yet?
We have no restock date; ask your pharmacy. Here is what to do this week:
- Ask your pharmacy when it expects the patch to arrive, and ask it to check its wholesaler.
- Ask whether another pharmacy in your area has it in stock.
- Ask your clinician whether a different estrogen form or a different schedule would work for you while you wait.
- Ask about refill timing so you don’t run out between prescriptions.
Why is there an estrogen patch shortage?
Ask your pharmacist what the maker has told them about supply.
Is the estrogen patch synthetic?
The patch delivers estradiol through the skin. The 2003 trial of a seven-day estradiol patch describes it as a transdermal estradiol patch. Your ovaries make estrogen naturally, and hormone therapy uses estrogen to raise hormone levels, according to Cleveland Clinic’s perimenopause guide. Whether a specific patch is described as synthetic depends on its active ingredient, so read the label or ask your pharmacist.
How do estrogen patches work?
Most women going through menopause have hot flashes and night sweats, which the 2015 review of menopausal symptoms calls vasomotor symptoms. Hot flashes are reported by up to 85% of menopausal women, and they last an average of about 5.2 years in one longitudinal study. The exact cause is not fully understood. The review’s main theory links falling estrogen to a narrowed temperature control system. A patch adds estradiol steadily through the skin, so you don’t have to take a daily pill.
How long does an estrogen patch take to work?
In a six-month open-label trial in Thailand, 50 women wore a weekly estradiol patch. Their average climacteric score fell from 27.18 at the start to 16.60 at one month, 12.78 at three months and 12.18 at six months. The trial had no placebo group, so it shows the change over time, not a comparison with no treatment. Two earlier 11-week placebo-controlled studies of the 7-day patch in the 1998 clinical review of the 7-day estrogen patch found that the 0.5 mg and 0.1 mg per day patches both had a positive effect on climacteric symptoms. Ask your clinician how long the patch stays active in your body, since that is a question about half-life, and your clinician can answer it for your product.
Where do you put an estrogen patch, and how is it used?
A 1998 review found that estradiol absorption from the buttock was higher and more consistent than from the abdomen. It suggested that site choice may need more study. In the 2003 Thai trial, at least 94% of patches stayed on without lifting more than a quarter. Follow the label and your pharmacist’s directions for how to apply and remove the patch.
Estrogen patch vs pill, cream and gel
The main difference is how the hormone reaches your body. Pills are taken by mouth. Patches and gels are applied to the skin, according to the dosing table in the 2015 review. A vaginal cream, tablet or ring is applied locally. The 2015 menopausal symptoms review from the NIH’s PubMed Central archive recommends locally applied estrogen for vaginal symptoms.
In a 24-week randomized, placebo-controlled trial in early-postmenopausal women with high cholesterol, 54 women finished. Compared with baseline, conjugated equine estrogen at 0.625 mg lowered LDL cholesterol by 18%, and a 50 µg estradiol patch lowered it by 11%. Only simvastatin was significantly better than diet alone, so neither estrogen arm differed significantly from diet alone. The trial did not directly compare patch and pill. Both estrogen arms also received the progestative nomegestrol on days 17 to 28 of the cycle. Lipoprotein(a) fell 38% with conjugated equine estrogen (P<.05) and 22% with the patch (P=.07, not statistically significant), and only conjugated equine estrogen reduced PAI-1, a clotting-related marker, by 29%. The authors concluded HRT, particularly conjugated equine estrogen, seems well tolerated and moderately effective in improving the lipid pattern; statins are preferred in more severe disease. Read the 2002 simvastatin and patch trial for the full comparison.
| Form | What the sources report | Limits to weigh |
|---|---|---|
| Estrogen patch (estradiol) | Weekly patch that relieved climacteric symptoms in 1998 and 2003 studies; in the 2002 trial, LDL fell 11% from baseline, not significantly different from diet alone | In the 2003 trial, itching was the most common skin irritation reported |
| Oral estrogen pill | Listed in the 2015 review (for example Premarin and Estrace); in the 2002 trial, LDL fell 18% from baseline and PAI-1 fell 29%, with neither result significantly different from diet alone for LDL | The 2017 review’s background notes that studies have suggested increased cardiovascular and breast cancer risk with oral hormone therapy, which led to reluctance to use it. The 2015 review says the Women’s Health Initiative Hormone Trial found that oral hormone therapy did not help urinary incontinence and may increase it. |
| Transdermal gel (EstroGel) | Listed in the 2015 review as a transdermal gel | The 1998, 2002 and 2003 studies above are about patches, not gels |
| Vaginal cream, tablet or ring | The 2015 review says vaginal rings, creams and tablets reduce vaginal symptoms, at very low doses | The 2015 review says data are insufficient to define the minimum effective dose |
Pellets are not covered in these studies. Ask your clinician how pellets would compare with a patch for your symptoms.
What are the side effects of an estrogen patch?
In the 2003 Thai trial, the most common skin reaction was itching, followed by redness, blisters and burning. In the 1998 review, skin irritation was similar to the older Estraderm patch, while adhesion was better with the 7-day patch. The studies describe good tolerance overall.
For bloating, headaches, nausea, diarrhea, weight gain and tiredness, the 2003 Thai trial does not list these. Ask your clinician which side effects to expect with your prescription, and bring this list to the visit.
Can an estrogen patch affect heart health or cancer risk?
A 2017 systematic review looked at six articles on transdermal estrogen and cardiovascular outcomes in women aged 50 to 79. It found some evidence suggesting a decrease in stroke risk and no increase in coronary heart disease, death or heart attack. The authors called for randomized trials with longer follow-up. Read the 2017 patch cardiovascular review for details. Your own history of heart disease, stroke or breast cancer decides whether estrogen is an option for you, and a clinician should make that call.
What else helps hot flashes and vaginal dryness?
No single option suits everyone. Cleveland Clinic notes that many people don’t need medication and find lifestyle changes enough. The table below compares the main options named in these sources.
| Option | What the sources say | Who it suits and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Hormone therapy (estrogen, or estrogen with progesterone) | Effective for vasomotor symptoms and, according to the 2015 review, an effective treatment for vaginal atrophy | Women with night sweats that wake them; the 2015 review says it is not beneficial for urinary incontinence |
| Birth control pills | Cleveland Clinic says they stabilize hormone levels and typically relieve symptoms | Discuss with your clinician whether they fit your history |
| Antidepressants (for example paroxetine, venlafaxine, escitalopram) | Cleveland Clinic says they help with hot flashes, mood swings, anxiety or depression; the 2015 review lists them as nonhormonal options | Paroxetine (Brisdelle) is unsafe with tamoxifen, per the 2015 review |
| Gabapentin (Neurontin) | Cleveland Clinic says it relieves hot flashes for most people | A seizure medication; your clinician weighs its use |
| Oxybutynin | Cleveland Clinic says this bladder medication can also relieve hot flashes | Used for overactive bladder |
| Ospemifene | A 2015 review reports the FDA approved ospemifene in 2013 for vulvovaginal atrophy. It is a systemically administered selective estrogen receptor modulator. | The review says it may help women with estrogen-sensitive cancers, in whom estrogen use is contraindicated |
| Mirena IUD | Cleveland Clinic says it can manage irregular bleeding in perimenopause | Progestin component of hormone therapy only if you still have a uterus |
| Vaginal estrogen or lubricants | Cleveland Clinic says creams and lubricants can reduce pain during sex and dryness | Prescription and over-the-counter options both exist |
| Vaginal DHEA | The 2015 review says it is being tested for menopausal urogenital atrophy | Still under study; too early to compare |
Cleveland Clinic’s tips include regular exercise, dressing in layers, using a fan, improving sleep habits, limiting alcohol and caffeine, managing stress, and not smoking.
How much does an estrogen patch cost?
We don’t have a current price for estrogen patches. Prices change by pharmacy, insurance and strength, so check today’s price with your pharmacy and against your plan. For a broader way to weigh what an option costs against the alternatives, see an integrative therapy costs money.
Can you get an estrogen patch without a prescription?
Ask your pharmacist whether a patch needs a prescription where you live. Estrogen is not right for every woman. The 2015 review notes that some women, such as those with estrogen-sensitive cancers, may need another approach. Bring your full history to that conversation.
Before you decide: a checklist
Use this list to prepare for your next appointment. It works whether you’re on the patch, waiting for one, or deciding between forms.
What to compare
- Patch, pill, gel and vaginal options, side by side with the limits above.
- Non-hormone options from the table, especially if estrogen is not an option for you.
- The price at your pharmacy for each form.
What to track
- Hot flashes and night sweats, including how often they wake you.
- Skin reactions at the patch site, and whether the patch stays on.
- Any new side effects, such as bloating, headaches or tiredness, and when they start.
What to bring
- Your personal and family history of heart disease, stroke, blood clots and breast cancer.
- A list of your current medicines and supplements.
- Your symptom log, and a note on your goals. You can use the guide to evaluating practices and setting goals to frame them.
What to ask
- When will the patch be back in stock, and is there a different strength or form to use in the meantime?
- How long does the patch stay active in my body?
- Which side effects should I expect, and when should I call?
- How would a pellet compare with a patch for my symptoms?
- Does my plan cover the form you prescribe, and what will it cost?
By the Integrative Health Evidence Guide Team
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your doctor or qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.