NBC News: FDA says no patch shortage as women struggle to fill

Tier 3: Supporting source (media, company, or community), never used alone for health claims
Publisher: NBC News · Published: August 10, 2026 · Accessed: August 10, 2026

Visit the source ↗

Claims this source supports

• FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary: the industry has been able to keep up 'but barely' and is recalibrating distribution and manufacturing; estradiol patches have not risen to the criteria for the FDA shortage list.
• ASHP includes 14 brands or dosages of estrogen patches in its current shortage list, first added in January 2026; the list is 100% reported by practitioners, pharmacists, physicians, nurses, and patients/caregivers.
• The number of women ages 45-54 prescribed estrogen-based therapies increased 184% from 2018 to 2026, with prescriptions up 20% between July 2025 and February 2026 (Truveta data).
• Viatris said it is taking steps to 'further expand production long-term' because demand has increased.
• Dr. Stephanie Faubion (Mayo Clinic, Menopause Society): options include switching brands, combining two lower-dose patches, switching between once-weekly and twice-weekly patch types, and gels/creams/oral/vaginal ring; she has not yet had a patient for whom an alternative wasn't found.
• Dr. Lauren Streicher (Northwestern): transdermal gels, creams, and patches are equal in safety, but non-patch options are less likely to be covered by insurance; oral estrogen slightly raises clotting risk.
• Dr. Kathleen Jordan (Midi Health): women are using hormone therapy longer than in the past, adding to demand.
• The FDA relies on historic demand data, so its information on current demand increases may be lagging (Ganio).