Millions of women go through menopause each year, with the majority experiencing some symptoms that can be severe and have a negative impact on everyday life. In a landmark move hailed as a “huge step forward” for women’s health, the first type of HRT to be available in pharmacies without a prescription will be Gina 10 microgram vaginal tablets (containing estradiol). The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said the vaginal tablets will be available for postmenopausal women from September after a safety review. The tablets are for women aged 50 and over who have not had a period for at least a year. They experience vaginal symptoms such as dryness, pain, itching, burning and uncomfortable sex caused by a lack of estrogen. The reclassification of the treatment follows a several-month review that included input from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the School of Sexual and Reproductive Health and the British Menopause Society. Low-dose vaginal estradiol has been widely used since 1991 and is considered safe, the MHRA said. Pharmacists will be able to use educational materials and a checklist to ensure tablets are prescribed appropriately. Other vaginal tablets that also contain estradiol, including Vagifem 10 microgram vaginal tablets, will still be available on prescription. Dr Laura Squire, head of quality and access to healthcare at the MHRA, said: “This is a landmark reclassification for the millions of women in the UK who are going through the menopause and experiencing severe symptoms which are having a negative impact on their daily lives. “Women will be able to safely take a topical vaginal HRT product without a prescription, which increases women’s access to treatment and gives them more control over their choices, while relieving pressure on frontline GP services.” Maria Caulfield, minister for women’s health, said: “Menopause affects hundreds of thousands of women every year, but for some the symptoms can be debilitating and for many they can be misunderstood or ignored. “Making Gina available over the counter is a huge step forward in enabling women to access HRT as easily as possible, ensuring they can continue to live their lives as they go through menopause.” The MHRA’s announcement comes hours after ministers vowed to tackle decades of “systemic” and “entrenched” gender health inequality in England with plans to introduce compulsory women’s health training for doctors, more cancer screening and hubs ” ‘one stop shop’ across the NHS. Subscribe to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7am. BST A consultation which received almost 100,000 responses from women and informed the Government’s first women’s health strategy found that menopause was the single most reported health issue for women aged 40-59. A key concern for years has been access to treatment, with women reporting that symptoms are not taken seriously or recognized as menopause and that there are difficulties accessing HRT, with some GPs reluctant to prescribe it.
