If you use Estradot patches as part of your hormone treatment (HRT), you may find them hard to get hold of for a while yet.
The Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Estradot in the UK, which were due to end on 2 October, have been extended to 8 January 2027. Four strengths of the patch are affected: 25, 50, 75 and 100 micrograms.
What is a Serious Shortage Protocol?
An SSP means your pharmacist can give you a suitable alternative, such as a different brand or strength of estradiol patch, without you needing a new prescription from your GP.
Why is there a shortage?
Demand for hormone treatment keeps growing as more women understand its benefits. In England, 14.7 million hormone treatment items were prescribed in 2024/25, an 11% rise on the year before.
In addition, the HRT Prescription Prepayment Certificate (HRT PPC), introduced in England in 2023, lets you pay a one-off fee to cover all your eligible hormone treatment prescription for 12 months. By making hormone treatment more affordable, it has helped increased demands for products such as Estradot patches, which are covered by the certificate. And the move in the US by medicines regulator the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to remove black box warnings for estrogen products in November 2025 has also increased demand.
Dr Louise Newson, physician, hormone specialist, said of the Estradot shortage: ‘For many women hormones are an essential treatment that help ease symptoms and protect their long-term health, so it's worrying that women are still struggling to get their HRT.
‘Running out can mean symptoms such as hot flushes, poor sleep, low mood and brain fog return quickly. No woman should have to ring round pharmacies to find her medicine.
'Manufacturers and the government need to work together on a lasting solution.’
What to do if your hormone treatment prescription is in short supply
Don't stop your treatment. Keep using your current supply while you investigate options
Order repeat prescriptions early, but avoid stockpiling, as this can make shortages worse
Ask your pharmacist whether an SSP covers your product and what alternatives they can offer
Talk to your clinician about switching to a similar product, such as another brand of patch or an estradiol gel. Absorption varies between products, so your dose may need adjusting.
Don't borrow from friends or buy online, as you may not get the right product
Read up on your options in the Learn section of the Balance app, so you feel confident discussing alternatives.
