Supervisor Speier Urges Members of Congress to Demand FDA Declare Official Estrogen Patch Shortage

Redwood City – San Mateo County Supervisor Jackie Speier sent a letter to several Members of Congress urging them to demand that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration declare an official shortage or similar status of Estradiol Transdermal Patches, a widely used medication for women with menopause symptoms. Until last fall, the FDA attached a black box warning to this hormone replacement medication. When the black box warning was removed, demand for prescriptions increased dramatically. According to HealthVerity data, it increased by more than 160% in the last two years. According to Epic Research, usage tripled from 2017 to 2026.

"This is the latest example of failure to support women’s health. Women should not struggle to fill estrogen prescriptions or scramble around for alternatives,” Supervisor Speier said. “The FDA needs to call out this serious shortage and find ways to meet the demand for a medication that millions of women in their mid-40s and 50s rely on.”

Supervisor Speier sent the letter to the House Democratic Women’s Caucus, the two California Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, and Congressmen Kevin Mullin and Sam Liccardo.