Since the beginning of the year, there have been multiple reports of shortages of estrogen patches in the United States as hormone therapy has made a comeback in treating symptoms of menopause.
Now, celebrities, including comedian Amy Schumer, have sounded the alarm about the patches, as some women have reported difficulty accessing the patches.
This is what we know about the shortages, what is driving them and how the conversation is playing out online.
Estrogen is a group of female sex hormones, including estradiol, estrone and estriol. Both men and women have estrogen, but men have much lower amounts. It is a key hormone important for regulating reproductive health and supporting multiple organ systems.
In medicine, estrogen is often used for treating menopause symptoms but is also used in contraception. It is also an important part of gender-affirming care and is used by trans men and women.
Estrogen patches are adhesive skin patches containing estradiol that stick to your skin. They deliver estrogen into the bloodstream and are used to treat symptoms of menopause like hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings.
Estrogen hormone therapy is considered the most effective way of treating menopause symptoms, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Beyond helping with symptoms, estrogen can help to protect against osteoporosis and aid with mood and memory.
Demand for estrogen patches began in November after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it would be removing a warning black box for dementia that had previously been on the medication for 20 years, Reuters reported at the time. That box had warned of dementia, cardiovascular disease and breast cancer.
Now, data from Truveta shows that demand for estrogen therapy has grown, increasing by 26 percent. The increase in demand has helped to drive the shortage, though there may be other factors at play.
CNN reported that doctors are bracing themselves for more shortages and that the crunch on the supply change could deepen before it eases.
Schumer shared a warning about the shortage of estrogen patches in a post on Instagram.
"I wanted to come on and make sure that other women my age have this information," the 44-year-old said in a video. "A good thing to do would be to get a three-month prescription from your doctor right now and to look into alternative kinds of estrogen -- not just patches but gels. Try different brands and warn other women because it's real," she said.
Other female celebrities then joined the conversation. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Rinna commented on Schumer's post, "Thank you for sharing this!", adding, "I wondered why my patch was a different brand sent by my pharmacy today."
RuPaul's Drag Race star Michelle Visage commented, "Ask your doc about compounded cream," while Patti Stanger of The Millionaire Matchmaker echoed her advice, writing "Ask your doctor to prescribe the cream, it's the best!"