Boots has become the first pharmacy to offer Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) medication without a prescription in the UK.
The Gina 10mg vaginal tablet, a locally acting oestrogen HRT, is the medication on offer without a prescription after being reclassified as a prescription-only drug earlier this year by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
The drug is said to treat one of the symptoms of menopause, vaginal atrophy, which occurs when reduced oestrogen levels in the body lead to a thinning, drying, and inflammation of the vaginal wall.
Anne Higgins, pharmacy director at Boots, said this is another important milestone in women’s health after Boots has been ‘supporting women for over 170 years’.
‘As a pharmacy medicine, Gina is more accessible to patients as they no longer need a prescription from their GP,’ she said.
‘Boots pharmacists are highly trained healthcare professionals and from today our pharmacy teams can offer this treatment to patients following a short consultation with no appointment needed.’
But where can you get the medication, how much does it cost, and how do you know if you’re eligible? Here is what you need to know:
Where can I get HRT medication without a prescription?
It will be rolled out to all Boots stores by the end of October, according to the retailer.
All other types of HRT, including different vaginal pills, patches, and gels, are still only available under prescription.
You can check if your local store will be offering the medication over the counter through the Boots website.
How much does the medication cost?
The Gina medication is available at Boots as a pack of 24 vaginal tablets for £29.99 and will be stocked at all Boots stores by the end of October.
The tablets come in a pre-loaded applicator and users initially place one tablet per day into their vagina for a fortnight.
After this, users switch to a dose of two tablets per week.
For those that cannot afford the tablets, you can still purchase the medication and other HRT medications through the NHS for the price of the prescription or free to those who do not pay for prescriptions.
How can I check if I am eligible?
The medication is available for women aged 50 and over who have not had a period in the last year, according to Boots.
Before purchasing the treatment, you will need to have a consultation with a pharmacist to ensure it is the right medicine for you.
If you are buying online, you can have an online consultation through the Boots website.
MORE : How to ‘menopause-proof’ your marriage
MORE : Menopausal divorce: How menopause can trigger marriage breakdown
Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Share your views in the comments below
var notifyQ = function () { var i = 0, l = awaitingReady.length; for (i = 0; i < l; i++) { awaitingReady[i](); } }; var ready = function (cb) { if (fbApiInit) { cb(); } else { awaitingReady.push(cb); } }; var checkLoaded = function () { return fbApiInit; }; window.fbAsyncInit = function () { FB.init({ appId: '176908729004638', xfbml: true, version: 'v2.10' }); fbApiInit = true; notifyQ(); }; return { 'ready' : ready, 'loaded' : checkLoaded }; })(); (function () { function injectFBSDK() { if ( window.fbApi && window.fbApi.loaded() ) return; var d = document, s="script", id = 'facebook-jssdk'; var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) { return; } js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.async = true; js.src = "https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); } if (window.metro) { window.addEventListener('scroll', injectFBSDK, {once: true, passive: true}); } else { window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', injectFBSDK, {once: true}); } })();
For all the latest Lifestyle News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
