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HRT to be sold over the counter!

(220 Posts)
Marydoll Wed 02-Feb-22 16:31:59

I know that our local food bank is always looking for sanitary products, Jax It is shameful that we have period poverty.
The other thing they are desperate for are disposable nappies.

Jaxjacky Wed 02-Feb-22 16:28:27

Period products are available in schools Marydoll food banks usually supply individual’s or families, so perhaps sanitary products would be useful for women. I’m not sure if colleges have the same scheme that schools have?

kittylester Wed 02-Feb-22 15:47:37

Charleygirl5

It will not be happening yet. The drug discussed was Vagifem which is a cream to apply to the vaginal area which can become very dry and painful. It is very much at the discussion stage, this product only. That is what I gleaned from the lunchtime news.

That's what I understood too Charley plus the pessaries.

I currently have the pessaries and I wonder whether they will be taken off prescription. I find the pessaries brilliant!

Visgir1 Wed 02-Feb-22 15:43:12

I have sent in a e-ref today to my GP to see if I'm suitable.
I have had it before but had to abruptly stop as my fibroid turned out to be Endometrial cancer, had the lot whipped away, that was 7 years ago. Still have Hot sweats, poor sleep, rubbish hair and ache.
See what they say?

Marydoll Wed 02-Feb-22 15:03:45

I thought that free period products were now available in all schools in Scotland and England.

The bill in Scotland was passed in November 2020.

Yammy Wed 02-Feb-22 14:56:19

It's just been on the lunchtime news, to buy over the counter will only apply to pessaries and cream for vaginal dryness, not the HRT tablets or patches if I understood rightly. Why not I ask? If men can get their Viagra.
My DD also alerted me to the Charity Boxes in supermarkets for Foodbanks, she now puts sanitary products in because of their high price and the fact some young girls have to stay off school because they have nothing to use.

Marydoll Wed 02-Feb-22 14:45:30

After listening to the news, HRT will not be sold over the counter.

This is what it is about.
New proposals to reclassify the first HRT product for self-care (Gina 10 microgram vaginal tablets, containing estradiol), would mean that women in the UK could access a menopausal treatment at a pharmacy, without requiring a prescription for the first time. Other vaginal tablets that also contain estradiol, including Vagifem will still be available on prescription. This is the MHRA’s first reclassification consultation for a Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) product locally applied in the vagina. This product is inserted into the vagina and not taken orally.

Source: GOVUK.

www.gov.uk/government/news/views-sought-on-making-first-local-vaginal-hrt-product-available-without-need-for-prescription

trisher Wed 02-Feb-22 14:41:21

By the way don't click the link unless you are prepared for real animal cruelty.

trisher Wed 02-Feb-22 14:38:54

I don't mind women taking it if they want to. I do question why a perfectly natural process has suddenly become an illness which needs treating and will of course make millions for drug companies. I also dislike the fact that some of the drugs involved still necessitate the mistreatment of so many horses who are kept in foal just so their urine can be collected. There was a thread a bit ago about a woman who kicked a horse and she was roundly condemned, yet thousands of women are taking Premarin and thousands of horses are suffering because of this www.humanedecisions.com/premarin-horses-the-suffering-of-premarin-mares/
If you want to take it ask for a plant based one.
But I think there are benefits to being post menopausal. The idea of old wise women didn't spring from nowhere.

snowberryZ Wed 02-Feb-22 14:28:41

No doubt it'll coincide with another scaremongering story and we will be back to the days of doctors tellingadvising us to stop taking it.
Its what usually happens.
I wish older women's health was treated more seriously, instead of the put up and shut up approach.

Charleygirl5 Wed 02-Feb-22 14:14:52

It will not be happening yet. The drug discussed was Vagifem which is a cream to apply to the vaginal area which can become very dry and painful. It is very much at the discussion stage, this product only. That is what I gleaned from the lunchtime news.

3dognight Wed 02-Feb-22 14:14:47

Will be interesting to see what’s available and costs.

I wonder if one will still be able to see a Doctor about menopause/hrt issues, or will they say that is covered by pharmacy now?

Kate1949 Wed 02-Feb-22 14:09:46

snowberry. I had patches. They were a nuisance. They used to stick to my clothes, the bed, the floor.

Shelmiss Wed 02-Feb-22 14:05:01

Fabulous! Been on HRT for 9 years now, tried to come off it a couple of times just to see what would happen and back came the hot flushes etc etc. so I went back on it. It’s a no brainier for me.

TerriBull Wed 02-Feb-22 14:00:23

I had some problems when taking HRT which at the time outweighed the benefits. I know HRT can transform what often is a hellish time for many women, I'm all for making life easier for them.

snowberryZ Wed 02-Feb-22 13:51:24

Kate maybe it's the type?
I was originally put on tablets which didn't agree with me.
I then started using the patches and have never looked back.

Kate1949 Wed 02-Feb-22 13:49:21

Nor me. I was waiting to become a new woman. I was put on HRT and my hair fell out.

snowberryZ Wed 02-Feb-22 13:46:39

I will.

Out of my friends (mostly 50s and 60s with a couple of 70 Yr olds) you can tell which ones are on hrt and which aren't.
I also have a mother and aunts for whom menopausal symproms have continedinued way into their 80s.
Sod that!
It's a common belief that menopause is something you go through and come out the other end
For a lot of women it continues well into old age.

I'm lucky in that there's a low incidence of breast cancer in my family
I weigh up the risks, and in my case the many benefits outweigh the very small risk.

Blossoming Wed 02-Feb-22 13:33:34

I won’t be buying.

snowberryZ Wed 02-Feb-22 13:20:37

A bill is being put forward.
About time I say!
Men get their viagra over the counter even thought there are 'risks' associated with it. Should be the same for women.
Let's hope it gets passed.

HRT is a life saver for a lot of women and I think it's disgusting how some women are made to jump through hoops to get hold of it.

Women are living longer than ever and it's not fair to expect them to spend their remaining 40 or so years lacking in hormones - hormones that are well known to keep your skin, bones and heart healthy.
Not to mention helping with mental health.