Some Pharmacies Across U.S. Seeing Estrogen Patch Shortages

by Keith Baldi, Manager of Enterprise Communications

Pharmacy at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center has Ample Supply

Less than five months after the U.S. Food & Drug Administration approved drug labeling changes to six menopausal hormone therapy products, also known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists is pointing to a shortage of some types of the medication.

The FDA guidance in February of 2026 led to the removal of what are known as “boxed warnings” from some HRT pharmaceuticals. Boxed warnings are the agency’s most prominent safety-related alerts. The menopausal hormone therapy product warnings were risk statements related to cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and probable dementia.

Estrogen Patch Use Increases

Since the labeling change, some industry tracking shows a marked increase in menopause treatment. Information from the health care data company HealthVerity, shows the number of prescriptions filled for Estrogen patches jumped from 594,000 in June of 2024, to 1.6M in May of 2026. HealthVerity also stated that those patches now account for 44% of all estrogen prescriptions.

The popularity of the treatments may be leading to shortages. In July, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists’ website, listed shortages of multiple Estradiol transdermal patches, which are used for menopausal hormone therapy.

Key Part of Treatment

These treatments can be a key part of helping women navigate this part of their health care journey, says Nurse Practitioner Carrie Illg, who works at Foundation OB/GYN in Nashua. She points to the work she and her colleagues do to help patients access the medication, including now sending them to Southern New Hampshire Health’s newly opened pharmacy at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua, where there is an abundant supply.

"We don't want women who can or have benefited from this medication to suffer in silence. Southern New Hampshire Health's providers dedicate their time to helping women through perimenopausal and menopausal symptomatic challenges. Hormone Replacement Therapy is beneficial in addressing perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, brain fog, sleep disturbance, mood changes, skin and hair changes, and joint pains,” Illg said.

Southern New Hampshire Health Pharmacy Stocks HRT Meds

The desire to get patients their necessary medications is echoed by John Berard, Director of Ambulatory Pharmacy Services at Southern NH Health, who says the team at the newly opened Pharmacy at Southern NH Medical Center planned for this type of surge in prescriptions.

“We saw the trends for this patient need and engaged in strategic ordering early on, so that we now have the ability to fill prescriptions and get patients their medications,” Berard said.

You do not need to be a Southern New Hampshire Health patient to have prescriptions filled at the pharmacy, which is open to everyone Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m.- Noon. Most major insurance plans are accepted. Patients can also visit this link or call 603-598-MEDS to discuss transferring or initiating their prescriptions.