Over-the-counter hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is now being sold in the UK for the first time ever.
Menopausal women can buy Gina’s 10mg tablets from Boots in what has been hailed as a milestone in women’s health.
Other chains will also start stocking the pills later this month.
The drug, which costs around £1.25 per pill, only treats certain side effects of menopause.
Pills are inserted directly into the vagina, where a small dose of estrogen is released.
This helps relieve vaginal dryness, pain, itching, and burning, factors that can affect the sex lives of women going through “the change.”
Gina 10 micrograms vaginal tablets will be available over the counter for menopausal women over 50 in Boots stores and on the Boots website beginning September 8
Gina is unable to relieve other debilitating symptoms such as hot flashes.
All other types of HRT, including various vaginal pills, patches and gels, are still only available by prescription.
Menopause occurs when a woman stops having periods, which means she can no longer conceive naturally.
The process – triggered by the ovaries producing less estrogen – is a natural part of aging and usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.
HRT is one way to treat the symptoms that affect eight out of ten women. It restores female hormone levels and brings relief to hundreds of thousands of women every year.
Manufactured by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, Gina releases estradiol, the type of estrogen primarily produced by the ovaries, directly into the vaginal tissues.
This means very little is absorbed into the bloodstream.
The NHS does not believe this type of HRT increases the risk of breast cancer.
For comparison, other forms that combine estrogen and progesterone are associated with a small increase in risk.
Only those over 50 who haven’t had a period in a year can get the low-dose drug under the supervision of pharmacists.
The tablets come in a pre-loaded applicator that delivers a low dose of estrogen directly to the vaginal wall, which is gradually released into the vaginal tissues, improving flexibility and elasticity and replenishing moisture.
Users initially insert one tablet per day into their vagina for two weeks, after which they switch to a maintenance dose of two tablets per week.
It’s available from Boots in a pack of 24 vaginal tablets for £29.99.
After an initial launch in 590 stores starting September 8, the drug will be available in all of Boots’ 2,247 stores by the end of October.
Before purchasing the treatment, patients will be advised by a pharmacist who will ask them a few questions to ensure it is suitable for them. You do not need to book an appointment for this.
When purchasing from the Boots website, they must undergo an online consultation.
Gina will continue to be available to patients with an NHS prescription at the price of the prescription, or free for those not paying for prescriptions.
While the over-the-counter cost is higher than a prescription, some may choose to buy directly from Boots if they are having trouble getting a doctor’s appointment.
The most commonly reported side effects after taking the tablets are abdominal pain, vaginal discharge, vaginal discomfort and vaginal bleeding.
Anne Higgins, Pharmacy Director at Boots, said: “As a pharmacy medicine, Gina is more accessible to patients as they no longer need a prescription from their GP.
“Today is another important milestone for women’s health.”
It is hoped the move will ease demand in GP surgeries – with patients facing long waits to get through on the phone and for appointments – by allowing women to get HRT without booking an appointment .
Bina Mehta, Boots Pharmacist, said: “Menopause is a natural process and everyone experiences it differently.
“I encourage those who are at any stage of menopause to come and speak to their local pharmacist for personalized advice and recommendations, as well as guidance on how to optimize HRT treatments where appropriate.”
A number of other drugs available over the counter follow, including Viagra in 2018 and birth control pills last July.
Thousands of women struggled to access essential HRT drugs earlier this summer amid a nationwide shortage.
During the crisis, women met in car parks to get their regular HRT products by bartering with others, while some were forced to pay online via opportunities to get HRT from the black market.
