Fact checked by Nick Blackmer

• Clinician reports and data from pharmacist trade groups suggest oral progesterone may be in short supply.
• Oral progesterone is primarily used alongside estrogen as part of hormone therapy to treat menopause symptoms.
• If you’re unable to find progesterone, experts recommend talking with your doctor about alternatives.

For months, headlines have highlighted a shortage of estrogen patches, one of the most commonly prescribed forms of hormone therapy. But clinicians and pharmacist trade group data suggest oral progesterone also appears to be in short supply in the United States—something I experienced firsthand.

Progesterone is largely prescribed for people like me who take estrogen for long-term health benefits like preventing bone loss and to manage menopause symptoms such as hot flashes. Because estrogen can cause the uterine lining to thicken, progesterone is used alongside it to thin out the lining and reduce the risk of endometrial cancer. 

I recently had to wait a couple of extra days for my estrogen medication to be in stock, but getting my oral progesterone prescription filled proved to be an even bigger challenge. When I called my local CVS Pharmacy in central Florida two weeks ago, I was told it was out of stock indefinitely at every location within a 150-mile radius. It was also unavailable at Publix Pharmacy, while an independent pharmacy had a limited supply that had already been reserved for another customer.

Fortunately, if you can’t get your usual progesterone prescription, doctors say you have options. Here’s what they recommend—and how I eventually got my prescription.

Which Medication Is In Short Supply?

Currently, the Food and Drug Administration doesn’t include progesterone in its drug shortage database. However, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) has listed oral micronized progesterone as being in short supply since May 14. The prescription form of progesterone is available as a generic or under the brand name Prometrium.

According to the ASHP database, the shortage affects capsules manufactured by Amneal Pharmaceuticals (100 mg) and Hikma (both 100 mg and 200 mg). Several other suppliers didn’t provide ASHP with availability information, while Acertis Pharmaceuticals is listed as having Prometrium available.

Karen E. Adams, MD, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Stanford University School of Medicine, estimated that 10% to 15% of her patients have had trouble obtaining progesterone.

What's Driving the Low Supply?

According to experts, several factors could be fueling a limited supply of progesterone. One is higher demand for hormone therapy (HT) following the 2025 removal of the “black box” safety warning for these therapies, said Taylor Clark, PharmD, a clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Binghamton University. The product labels no longer mention risks related to cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and dementia after research called into question the science that prompted them.

Prescriptions for progesterone-containing hormone therapy among women ages 45 to 54 have increased 488% since 2018, according to the health analytics company Truveta.

Adams also argued that the trend reflects the reality that “women’s health is not a priority in this country," including in the manufacturing of female-specific therapies such as estrogen patches and oral progesterone.

What to Do If You Can’t Get Progesterone

According to ASHP, Amneal’s progesterone capsules are on backorder with no estimated release date, while Hikma expects additional supply in early July 2026.

If you're having trouble finding progesterone, start by asking your pharmacist when the product may be back in stock, Clark advised. 

In the meantime, shop around if you can. After a couple of days, I ended up finding a 90-day supply of the 100 mg capsules I take in stock at an out-of-network pharmacy for only about $20 more than I usually pay by using a drug discount card.

If you still can’t fill your prescription—or the expected wait time is too long— Adams recommended contacting your healthcare provider to discuss alternatives. She noted that many women who typically take 100 mg doses, currently the hardest to find, may be able to switch to 200 mg without issue.

Another option is switching to a medication that contains progestin, a synthetic form of progesterone. According to Adams, oral alternatives include Provera (medroxyprogesterone), drospirenone, and norethindrone. IUDs are also an option, as well as therapies that combine estrogen with progestin, such as pills or patches.

What You Shouldn't Do If You Can't Find Progesterone

Adams stressed the importance of continuing progesterone therapy. No data exists on how long it’s safe to take estrogen without progesterone, and the risk likely varies from person to person.

Clark also advised avoiding compounded products, which are custom-made medications prepared by pharmacies. The FDA allows compounding when it has listed a drug as in shortage or when a patient needs a personalized dose or formulation. But compounded medications aren’t FDA-approved and can vary in absorption, quality, and the amount of active ingredient, Clark warned.

Finally, experts say it helps to be proactive. Don’t do what I did and wait until the last minute to refill your prescription. Give yourself time to talk with your pharmacist and doctor to review options and find the best alternative for you.

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Kristina Dawson