HRT over the counter

Landmark for women as Boots sells life-changing drug with no prescription

MENOPAUSAL women can get HRT pills without a prescription for the first time in the UK from today.

Gina-branded tablets were reclassified from prescriptiononly to an over-the- counter medicine by regulators earlier this year and are now available in Boots stores and online.

The low-dose tablets are a locally acting oestrogen form of hormone replacement therapy that treats dryness and other menopausal symptoms. The change has been hailed as a landmark moment for women’s health.

Packs of 24 10-microgram tablets will be sold at all Boots stores by the end of October for £29.99. Instore customers will be questioned by a pharmacist to ensure the tablets are suitable and an online consultation will be required if ordering on boots.com. The same treatment will be available to patients with an NHS prescription.

Gina tablets are for women over 50 who have not had a period in at least a year. They relieve symptoms of reduced oestrogen levels which include dryness, inflammation, itching, burning, soreness and discomfort during sex. They come in a pre-loaded applicator that directly delivers a low dose of oestrogen to the vaginal wall.

Boots pharmacist Bina Mehta said: ‘Everyone’s experience is different. I encourage those who are going through any stage of the menopause to come and speak to their local pharmacist.’

When the pills were reclassified earlier this year, Dr Laura Squire of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency commented: ‘This is a landmark for millions of women.’

She said the change would give women ‘greater control over their choices while relieving pressure on frontline GP services’.

This summer a Daily Mail HRT campaign won a major victory after pharmacists got the goahead to prescribe alternatives to out- of- stock treatment. Other demands include immediate introduction of an annual payment for HRT drugs and bringing forward requirements for medical students to study the menopause.