For many women in the United States who encounter drenching night sweats, sudden hot flashes, debilitating exhaustion and other menopausal symptoms, small estradiol patches worn on the skin have become a steady source of relief.
Emily Padgett has spent months trying to get her hands on estrogen patches, bouncing between pharmacies, transferring prescriptions and switching brands three times.
For a couple of anxious weeks in January, she had to go without them entirely.
“Ther... [13263 chars]