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Women looking for relief from menopause symptoms could soon have a more affordable option for a weekly hormone patch.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first generic version of Climara Pro on Monday. It's a skin patch that delivers two hormones: estradiol, a form of estrogen, and levonorgestrel, a progestin.

Made by Zydus Pharmaceuticals (U.S.) Inc., the generic works the same way as the brand-name version, the agency said. Women apply a new patch once a week.

Like Climara Pro, it's approved for women who still have a uterus. It treats moderate to severe hot flashes and night sweats caused by menopause. It also helps prevent osteoporosis, the bone-thinning disease that can follow menopause.

"Menopause is a universal experience for women, and it can greatly affect a person's quality of life," acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas said in a news release. "This approval makes effective treatment more accessible."

Many menopause patches contain estrogen alone. This one pairs estrogen with a progestin, a lab-made hormone that acts like the body's natural progesterone.

That second hormone serves a purpose. In women with a uterus, estrogen on its own can cause the uterine lining to grow too thick. Adding a progestin helps protect against it and against uterine cancer, according to the FDA.

"Once-weekly dosing can make a real difference in how patients manage their care," said Dr.

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