US House Democratic Women's Caucus presses health secretary on estrogen patch shortages

Women have reportedly faced difficulties in obtaining these patches, often leading them to reduce or switch their estrogen dosages or change brands and types of therapy. The estradiol transdermal patches are crucial for managing menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep disturbances.

This is not the first time lawmakers have raised concerns. Representative Debbie Dingell of Michigan, along with seven other Congress members, sent a similar letter to FDA Acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas in July. In their latest letter, sent Monday evening, the members noted that "no meaningful actions have been taken."

Representative Val Hoyle of Oregon emphasized the importance of women's health, stating that the issue is not receiving adequate attention. She expressed a desire for health officials to address these concerns before Congress reconvenes on November 9, following the midterm elections. Hoyle indicated that if a satisfactory response is not received, the lawmakers plan to highlight the problem further to elicit a response.

The lawmakers' request includes details on manufacturing or supply chain bottlenecks that are impacting supply, data on which specific brands and dosages are most affected, and whether the FDA is exploring additional manufacturers to bridge the supply gap.