I used to be one of those women who swore I'd NEVER do hormone replacement therapy.
Nope. Not me. I was going to sail through menopause naturally, with grace and dignity. Maybe a little yoga, some herbal tea, and a positive attitude.
HA! That was cute.
Then came the night sweats, hot flashes, sleepless nights, brain fog, achy joints, and sex that suddenly hurt. No aspect of my life seemed to be unscathed!
At 49, I felt approximately 100 years old. And my plans to navigate menopause naturally and gracefully? Yeah, those went right out the window.
So in April 2026, I started hormone replacement therapy (HRT): a low-dose estradiol patch and 100 mg of oral progesterone.
Four weeks later? I was sleeping! I had energy! I was starting to feel like an actual human being again!
And then I needed a refill.
Apparently, feeling better was the easy part.
Thanks to the estradiol patch shortage, I found myself calling practically every pharmacy within a 60-mile radius, desperately searching for my hormones. Nothing says living my best midlife life quite like spending an afternoon asking strangers if they have any estrogen in stock.
Remember the great toilet paper shortage of 2020? Same energy. Different aisle. Significantly more hot flashes. What a time to be alive!
And just like that, the woman who swore she'd NEVER take hormones was practically willing to take a day of PTO and drive across the country to get them! I could NOT go back to the way I felt pre-HRT!
After another couple of months of this nonsense, my provider adjusted my dose and switched me to a daily estradiol gel.
Problem solved! The gel was easier to find, and I could finally stop treating prescription refill day like a competitive sport.
Until, of course, the gel became scarce. (Of course it would!)
And suddenly, the patches were available again.
At this point, I'm in a toxic relationship with my HRT. Every time I think we've figured things out, it becomes unavailable.
So why is there an estrogen shortage anyway?
Here's where things get interesting.
According to the CDC, nearly half of American women ages 40–60 reported menopausal symptoms in 2025. That's approximately 16.7 million women dealing with some version of this hormonal circus.
And more women are finally seeking treatment.
The FDA says demand for estradiol patches has surged. Manufacturers have increased production, but making these patches requires specialized equipment, and supply hasn't kept pace with demand.
So, essentially, women started asking for help, and the pharmaceutical supply chain wasn't prepared for us.
Imagine that.
Sidebar: I can't help wondering how quickly this would get sorted out if middle-aged men were driving 60 miles to find their hormones. I'm just saying.
At least we're finally talking about it.
Our mothers and grandmothers often suffered through "the change" quietly. Menopause wasn't exactly dinner conversation, and women were largely expected to just deal with it.
Now? We're comparing symptoms, talking openly about HRT, asking questions, and realizing we don't have to accept feeling miserable as some inevitable part of getting older.
And I love that for us.
I also have to laugh at how convinced I was that I'd never consider HRT. Turns out it's pretty easy to have strong opinions about menopause before menopause has its own plans for you.
But wouldn't it be nice if the medication could keep up with the conversation?
Because personally, I'm thrilled that women are finally speaking up about menopause. I'd just prefer not to spend my newfound energy tracking down estrogen across three counties.
If you've also found yourself on a monthly hormone scavenger hunt, babe, I see you.
Maybe we should start a carpool…..like Thelma & Louise!
