For months, women across Oregon and the country have struggled to fill prescriptions for estradiol patches, one of the most commonly prescribed forms of hormone therapy for menopause. Some women have called pharmacy after pharmacy searching for a refill. Others have switched doses or gone without treatment, bringing back symptoms they thought were behind them. For Portland resident Christy Juenemann, the shortage has meant settling for a lower dose that no longer controls her symptoms. Juenemann, 45, began using an estradiol patch earlier this year after frightening heart palpitations associated with perimenopause repeatedly sent her to the emergency room. A low-dose patch did not help. But after her clinician increased her prescription, the palpitations were “all but gone” within two weeks. Then the shortage caught up with her. When her pharmacy could not refill the higher dose because it was on back order, Juenemann returned to a lower dose she still had at home. Four days late...