Interactive tracker · Verified July 6, 2026

Estradiol Patch Alternative Tracker

Estradiol (estrogen) patches are backordered across the U.S. in 2026. These are the verified non-patch alternatives each menopause telehealth provider can actually ship. For every provider we score, the table below shows three things: whether they prescribe patches at all, which non-patch estrogen forms (gel, spray, pill, cream, vaginal) their formulary lists, and each provider's Transparency Grade (A-F) so you know how much they disclose before you hand over an email.

Of the 12 menopause providers on our list, 10 list estradiol patches, but a formulary listing is not a filled prescription during a shortage. The point of the tracker is the right-hand columns: the estrogen forms that are generally still in stock. Read the full shortage status for how bad it is and how long it may last. Providers are ordered by our methodology score, never by who pays us.

10/12

list patches

2

offer gel

0

offer spray

4

offer cream

4

offer pill

3

offer vaginal

Winona

8.4/10Transparency B

Prescribes estradiol patches (currently backordered)

Non-patch estrogen it can ship today

CreamPillVaginal
+ Show estrogen formulary
  • Estrogen tablets (from $54/mo)
  • Estrogen body cream (from $89/mo)
  • Estrogen body cream with progesterone ($89/mo)
  • Estrogen patch (from $149/mo)
  • Vaginal estrogen cream ($89/mo)

Midi Health

7.7/10Transparency B

Prescribes estradiol patches (currently backordered)

Non-patch estrogen it can ship today

Estradiol offered, delivery form set at consult, not surfaced pre-intake

Defy Medical

7.6/10Transparency C

No estradiol patch: non-patch estrogen only

Non-patch estrogen it can ship today

Estradiol offered, delivery form set at consult, not surfaced pre-intake

Sesame Care

7.6/10Transparency B

Prescribes estradiol patches (currently backordered)

Non-patch estrogen it can ship today

Gel
+ Show estrogen formulary
  • Estradiol (generic Estrace, Climara, Divigel) [Verified July 2026]
  • Estrogen-progestin (generic Prempro, Bijuva, Mimvey)

Hone Health

7.5/10Transparency C

Prescribes estradiol patches (currently backordered)

Non-patch estrogen it can ship today

Estradiol offered, delivery form set at consult, not surfaced pre-intake

+ Show estrogen formulary
  • Estradiol, progesterone (women's line)

Hers Menopause

7.4/10Transparency D

Prescribes estradiol patches (currently backordered)

Non-patch estrogen it can ship today

CreamPill
+ Show estrogen formulary
  • Estradiol pill (from $79/mo, 12-mo plan) [Reported]
  • Estradiol patch (from $134/mo, 12-mo plan) [Reported]
  • Estradiol cream [Reported]

Wisp

7.3/10Transparency B

Prescribes estradiol patches (currently backordered)

Non-patch estrogen it can ship today

CreamVaginal
+ Show estrogen formulary
  • Estrogen and progesterone hormone replacement in patch, suppository and topical forms [Verified July 2026]
  • Estradiol vaginal cream, from $20 [Verified July 2026]
  • Estriol face cream, $99 [Verified July 2026]

Gala Health

7.2/10Transparency C

Prescribes estradiol patches (currently backordered)

Non-patch estrogen it can ship today

PillVaginal
+ Show estrogen formulary
  • Estradiol pill (from $79/mo)
  • Estradiol patch
  • Vaginal estradiol

Gennev

7.1/10Transparency B

Prescribes estradiol patches (currently backordered)

Non-patch estrogen it can ship today

Estradiol offered, delivery form set at consult, not surfaced pre-intake

Elektra Health

7.0/10Transparency B

Prescribes estradiol patches (currently backordered)

Non-patch estrogen it can ship today

Estradiol offered, delivery form set at consult, not surfaced pre-intake

Inner Balance

7.0/10Transparency D

No estradiol patch: non-patch estrogen only

Non-patch estrogen it can ship today

Cream
+ Show estrogen formulary
  • Topical estrogen cream

Telos RX

6.9/10Transparency D

Prescribes estradiol patches (currently backordered)

Non-patch estrogen it can ship today

GelPill
+ Show estrogen formulary
  • Bioidentical estradiol (patch, gel, or oral) [Verified July 2026]

Grades come from our Transparency Grade methodology. We earn a commission when readers sign up with some of these platforms, disclosed on every page, never a factor in the score or the sort order. Estimate your cost with the HRT cost calculator.

How to use this tracker during the shortage

  1. Ignore the patch column if your pharmacy can't fill one.A provider listing patches doesn't mean stock exists. The green chips on the right are the forms that generally do.
  2. Match a form to your history. Gels, sprays, and patches are all transdermal estrogen and clinicians consider them comparable on safety; oral estradiol carries a small added clotting risk and is usually avoided with a clot history.
  3. Weigh the Transparency Grade.An A or B means the price and the clinicians are disclosed before you start; a D or F means you'll learn the real cost only after intake.
  4. Take the form to a clinician. This tool tells you who can prescribe an alternative, not which one you should take. That decision is yours and your prescriber's.

Questions

What can I use instead of an estradiol patch during the shortage?

FDA-approved non-patch estrogen forms include estradiol gel, spray, oral tablets, and vaginal estrogen, plus estradiol cream. Which one is right depends on your history and is decided with your clinician. The table above shows which providers can prescribe each form today.

Which telehealth providers still prescribe estradiol patches?

10 of the 12 menopause providers we score list estradiol patches. But a formulary listing is not a filled prescription during a shortage. The reason to switch is that non-patch estrogen forms are generally in stock.

Is estradiol gel or spray as good as the patch?

Estradiol gels, sprays, and patches are all transdermal estrogen, and clinicians quoted by NBC News consider them comparable on safety. The practical differences are daily application versus twice-weekly and insurance coverage, which is often better for patches. Discuss the switch with your prescriber.

This is general information, not medical advice.HRT is a prescription medical treatment; whether and how to switch estrogen forms depends on your health history and must be decided with a licensed clinician. HRT Picks is not a medical provider and has no role in your care. Formulary data was derived from each provider's published sources and verified on July 6, 2026; a listed medication does not guarantee stock or that it is appropriate for you.

Get alerted when patch supply, or these formularies, change.

We re-verify provider formularies and track the estradiol patch shortage monthly. One short email per month.

No spam. We never sell your email. Editorial policy.

Featured Partners

Providers we may earn a commission from. Scores never move for affiliate status.

Gala Health logoGala Health

7.2/10

From $79/moGrade C

Winona logoWinona

8.4/10

From $54/moGrade B

Sesame Care logoSesame Care

7.6/10

From $99/moGrade B

Wisp logoWisp

7.3/10

From $99/moGrade B

Some links above are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Scores are methodology-only and never move for affiliate status. How we score.