Short answer: The Menostar label dose is one 14 mcg per day patch applied once weekly to a clean, dry area of the lower abdomen or the upper quadrant of the buttock, never on or near the breasts. Only one patch is worn during the 7-day interval. Each 3.25 cm2 patch holds 1 mg estradiol; a carton has 4 patches. The label calls for the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration.
This is what the FDA label says. Follow your prescriber. Your prescriber may use a different dose or pace than the label's standard schedule.
What Menostar is approved for: Menostar is a low-dose weekly estradiol patch. Its only approved use is to prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis (section 1.1). The label says that when prescribing only for this, non-estrogen medicines are considered first, and estrogen only for women at significant risk of osteoporosis.
Source
MENOSTAR (estradiol transdermal system), prescribing information, Patient Information and Instructions for Use. Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals. DailyMed, version published March 16, 2026. DailyMed setid a78708cd-04d4-4221-a4e4-53680bbe2912
Menostar goes on clean, dry skin of the lower abdomen or the upper quadrant of the buttock, away from the waistline and from areas where sitting would rub it off. Sites are rotated, at least 1 week apart (section 2.2).
The patch is applied right after the pouch is opened and pressed firmly for at least 10 seconds. Swimming, bathing or sauna use has not been studied and may reduce sticking and delivery (section 2.2).
It is stored at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F), not above 86°F, and kept in its pouch until use. Used patches are folded sticky side together and thrown away in a child-proof container, not flushed (section 16.2).
The table below is the label's schedule, from the Dosage and Administration section. Numbers are copied exactly; the section is in brackets.
| Item | Label value |
|---|---|
| Use | Prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis |
| Dose | Menostar 14 mcg per day |
| How often | One patch applied once weekly |
| Where | Lower abdomen or upper quadrant of the buttock; not on or near the breasts |
| Patch | 3.25 cm2, contains 1 mg estradiol; 4 systems per carton |
When estrogen is prescribed for a woman with a uterus, adding a progestogen is generally considered to reduce the risk of endometrial cancer. A woman without a uterus generally does not need one, though some with past endometriosis may.
Estrogen is used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration consistent with treatment goals and risks, with periodic re-evaluation of whether treatment is still needed.
If a patch falls off, it is put back on a different spot; if it cannot be, a new patch is applied for the rest of the 7-day interval.
If feasible, estrogens are stopped at least 4 to 6 weeks before surgery linked to a higher risk of blood clots, or during long immobilization.
Dose and the need for treatment are talked over regularly (every 3 to 6 months), with a pelvic exam, breast exam and mammogram every year unless the provider says otherwise.
The Patient Information says: "If you forget to apply a new MENOSTAR patch, apply a new patch as soon as possible." The Instructions for Use add that stopping or forgetting a patch may bring spotting or bleeding, or symptoms may come back.
More on this: missed a dose of Menostar.
In Dose Track you set up Menostar as a protocol with the dose and schedule your prescriber gave you. A protocol can hold dose steps, each with its own dose and length in days or weeks, so a step-up plan like the one on the label can be entered once and the app moves to the next step on its own. Reminders follow the schedule, and every dose is logged with the date and time, so you can see which step you are on and when your last dose was. The app follows what you enter; it does not choose or change a dose.
This page is what the FDA label says, in plain words. It is not medical advice. Follow your prescriber, and ask them or your pharmacist about anything here.