Refresh - Aesthetics & Wellness in St. Petersburg Shares Guidance Following FDA Estradiol Patch Update

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Refresh - Aesthetics & Wellness in St. Petersburg is sharing guidance for women navigating perimenopause and menopause following a new update from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding availability of estradiol transdermal patches.

On September 3, 2026, the FDA reported that some patients have experienced difficulty readily accessing their usual estradiol patches due to increased demand. The agency emphasized that estradiol transdermal patches remain available, although availability of individual products or brands may vary between pharmacies and geographic areas.

The development reflects a broader increase in attention surrounding menopause treatment, hormone replacement therapy and women’s midlife health.

For women in St. Petersburg and across Pinellas County who use estradiol as part of a prescribed treatment plan, Refresh emphasizes that difficulty locating a particular patch should not lead patients to independently discontinue medication, alter their dose or substitute another product.

The FDA recommends contacting a pharmacist to check availability and speaking with the prescribing healthcare provider if the usual product cannot be located. Manufacturers are also working to increase production, and the FDA reports that the supply of FDA-approved estradiol transdermal patches has nearly doubled over the past year.

Menopause Care Is Highly Individualized

Perimenopause and menopause can be associated with symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disruption, mood changes, brain fog, fatigue and changes in libido. However, symptoms alone do not determine whether hormone therapy is appropriate.

At Refresh - Aesthetics & Wellness in St. Petersburg, menopause and hormone care begins with an individualized medical evaluation. Depending on the patient, this may include a review of symptoms and medical history, vital signs, diagnostic laboratory testing and discussion of potential treatment options. Refresh currently offers medically supervised hormone optimization and menopause care at its St. Petersburg office at 646 1st Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

Treatment recommendations are individualized because hormone therapy is not one single medication or protocol. Different patients may require different medications, doses, routes of administration or nonhormonal approaches based on their medical history and clinical evaluation.

“Women are hearing more about menopause and hormone therapy than ever before, but increased awareness also makes individualized medical guidance more important,” said Christopher Senger, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Refresh - Aesthetics & Wellness. “The goal should never be to place every patient on the same protocol. The appropriate approach depends on the individual woman, her symptoms, health history, laboratory findings and risk factors.”

Refresh’s menopause program incorporates comprehensive diagnostic bloodwork and ongoing clinical follow-up, with treatment considered only when medically appropriate for the individual patient. 

What St. Petersburg Patients Should Know

Women who currently use an estradiol patch and are having difficulty filling their prescription should first contact their pharmacy and prescribing healthcare provider. Patients should not stop or change medication without medical guidance.

Women experiencing new or worsening perimenopause or menopause symptoms can also discuss those concerns with a qualified healthcare provider to determine whether additional evaluation is appropriate.

Refresh - Aesthetics & Wellness provides menopause relief, hormone replacement therapy, medical weight management, aesthetics and wellness services from its St. Petersburg location.

Refresh - Aesthetics & Wellness – St. Petersburg
646 1st Ave S
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 300-5575

Hormone therapy requires an individualized medical evaluation and is not appropriate for every patient. Potential benefits, risks, medications and results vary based on the individual patient and treatment plan.