Hormone replacement therapy to be provided over the counter in the UK

After the medicines watchdog has given the ‘go ahead’, hormone replacement therapy will be offered to customers over the counter for the first time in the UK.

The first type of HRT available in pharmacies without a prescription will be Gina 10 microgram vaginal tablets (which contain estradiol), which will be available for women from September.

The tablets, for women aged 50+ who haven’t had a period for at least one year, treat vaginal symptoms such as burning, itching, soreness, dryness and uncomfortable sex driven by a shortage of oestrogen.

The reassessment of the treatment follows a review that included input from the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the British Menopause Society.

The MHRA has said that low-dose vaginal estradiol has been widely used since the early 1990s and is considered safe. Pharmacists can use a checklist and training materials to prescribe the tablets appropriately.

Other vaginal tablets containing estradiol, such as Vagifem 10 microgram vaginal tablets, will still be accessible on prescription..

Chief healthcare quality and access officer Dr Laura Squire has stated: “This is a landmark reclassification for the millions of women in the United Kingdom who go through menopause and experience extreme symptoms that negatively impact their everyday life. Women can safely obtain a local vaginal hormone replacement therapy product without a prescription, which increases women’s access to treatment and gives them greater control over their choices while relieving pressure on frontline GP services.”

The minister for women’s health, Maria Caulfield, stated: “Menopause affects hundreds of thousands of women each year, but for some, its 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 living their life as they navigate menopause.”