Healthcare

UK First as Menopause Treatment Becomes Available Over the Counter on Landmark Day for Women

Boots becomes the first pharmacy to offer local HRT Gina® without a prescription

Thursday 8 September, UK: From today, the first Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) treatment is available to access over the counter in Boots stores across the UK and online on boots.com, in a landmark day for women.

Gina 10 microgram vaginal tablets is a local oestrogen HRT and the only treatment available without a prescription that is clinically proven to target and treat the cause of vaginal atrophy and its associated symptoms after the menopause.

Vaginal atrophy (VA) is the thinning, drying and inflammation of the vaginal wall due to reduced oestrogen levels in the body as a result of menopause. It can cause vaginal dryness, itching, burning, soreness and uncomfortable sex.

Suitable for women aged 50 and over who haven’t had a period in at least a year, Gina treats and relieves these symptoms. It is a small vaginal tablet that comes in a pre-loaded applicator that delivers a low dose of oestrogen directly to the vaginal wall, replacing lost oestrogen where it is needed, providing symptom relief from eight to 12 weeks.

Gina was reclassified from a prescription only medicine to a pharmacy medicine by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) earlier this year following an application by license holder Novo Nordisk. It is available at Boots as a pack of 24 vaginal tablets for £29.99, which works out to £2.50 per week*, and will be stocked at all Boots stores by the end of October.

Before purchasing Gina, patients will have a consultation with a pharmacist, who will ask them a few questions to ensure Gina is suitable for them. If purchasing via boots.com, access to treatment is subject to an online consultation.

Bina Mehta, a pharmacist at Boots, said:

 “Oestrogen levels decline after the menopause and can lead to changes in vaginal health that cause uncomfortable symptoms like vaginal dryness and itching. Unlike other menopause symptoms, these are usually chronic and progressive and will not resolve without treatment. Applied directly to the vagina, Gina works by gradually releasing a low dose of oestrogen into the vaginal tissue to improve flexibility and elasticity and replenish moisture.

“Menopause is a natural process and 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 for personalised advice and recommendations alongside guidance, where appropriate, on how to optimise HRT treatments – we are here to help!”

As the leading health and beauty retailer, Boots is uniquely placed to help women through the perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause and offers support for over 40 signs and symptoms. As well as speaking to their local Boots pharmacist for advice and support, customers can discover a range of menopause products and services by symptom on boots.com.

Boots and No 7 are both independently accredited as Menopause Friendly Employers. They also cover the cost of NHS prescriptions for HRT for its team members in England, which is offered alongside other initiatives to support employees through this life stage.

* £2.50 per week once on the maintenance dose of two vaginal tablets per week. £4.28 per week on the initial dose when beginning the treatment. For the initial dose, use one vaginal tablet each day for the first two weeks of treatment, after that use one vaginal tablet twice a week, leaving three or four days between each dose. One pack of Gina contains 24 pessaries.

Contacts

For all media enquiries and interview requests, please contact the team at Sassy:

Karun Jung

Email: karun@sassyfilms.com

Tel: +44 (0) 7725 940 179 

Andriana Toneva

Email: andriana@sassyfilms.com

Tel: +44 (0) 7761 255 487

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