[UK] HRT will be available over the counter for the first time

Groundbreaking news suggests that UK women will soon be able to pick up hormone replacement therapy (HRT) without a prescription, for the very first time, Marie Claire reports.

At present, HRT has to be prescribed by a GP or specialist and a woman must attend a consultation to be able to access the medicine, which can be pivotal in helping women manage their menopause symptoms with less disruption to their professional and personal lives.

Statistics show that only around 150,000 women in the UK are currently prescribed HRT despite 1.5 million women going through menopause every year.

Experts believe that many women would take the medication if they didn’t have to visit their GP to get it.

Menopause symptoms can include hot flushes, night sweats, sleep disturbance, and more.

Disturbingly, only one in ten women going through menopause have been given access to the treatment, which minimises the main symptoms associated with it.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Britain’s health regulator is now set to reclassify the drug; meaning pharmacists will be able to sell it over the counter and women will no longer need a prescription.

One (now debunked) study from 2001 found that HRT could be linked to a higher risk of breast cancer and it has since been widely concluded that the benefits outweigh any associated risks.

The news comes as the price of HRT is lowered after a lengthy campaign.

There have been mixed reactions to the news, with the majority of charities calling it a “good thing” but others expressing concern over women “self-diagnosing” their need for the medication.

However, based on the sheer number of women now sharing their struggles with menopause - including an undeniable and unacceptable link between menopause and job loss - it is undeniably time that the gender health gap was addressed and change was implemented.

HRT is commonly sold as a tablet, skin patch, gel, or cream. It works by boosting the body’s hormone levels which naturally drop during menopause.

In response to the news, Vicky Walker - Group Director of People at Westfield Health - said, ”We’re seeing menopause being brought to the forefront and more awareness being raised around the symptoms and hormonal changes that deeply affect many women in their daily lives.

With menopause symptoms negatively impacting 59 per cent of working women aged between 45-55 in the workplace, making HRT more accessible may encourage more women to seek treatment and support sooner, rather than suffering in silence.”

Currently, a woman must pay £19 a month for an HRT prescription but this looks set to change to around £19 annually.

Source: Marie Claire

(Link via original reporting)

Vicky Walker’s quote and links via Westfield Health

Groundbreaking news suggests that UK women will soon be able to pick up hormone replacement therapy (HRT) without a prescription, for the very first time, Marie Claire reports.

At present, HRT has to be prescribed by a GP or specialist and a woman must attend a consultation to be able to access the medicine, which can be pivotal in helping women manage their menopause symptoms with less disruption to their professional and personal lives.

Statistics show that only around 150,000 women in the UK are currently prescribed HRT despite 1.5 million women going through menopause every year.

Experts believe that many women would take the medication if they didn’t have to visit their GP to get it.

Menopause symptoms can include hot flushes, night sweats, sleep disturbance, and more.

Disturbingly, only one in ten women going through menopause have been given access to the treatment, which minimises the main symptoms associated with it.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Britain’s health regulator is now set to reclassify the drug; meaning pharmacists will be able to sell it over the counter and women will no longer need a prescription.

One (now debunked) study from 2001 found that HRT could be linked to a higher risk of breast cancer and it has since been widely concluded that the benefits outweigh any associated risks.

The news comes as the price of HRT is lowered after a lengthy campaign.

There have been mixed reactions to the news, with the majority of charities calling it a “good thing” but others expressing concern over women “self-diagnosing” their need for the medication.

However, based on the sheer number of women now sharing their struggles with menopause - including an undeniable and unacceptable link between menopause and job loss - it is undeniably time that the gender health gap was addressed and change was implemented.

HRT is commonly sold as a tablet, skin patch, gel, or cream. It works by boosting the body’s hormone levels which naturally drop during menopause.

In response to the news, Vicky Walker - Group Director of People at Westfield Health - said, ”We’re seeing menopause being brought to the forefront and more awareness being raised around the symptoms and hormonal changes that deeply affect many women in their daily lives.

With menopause symptoms negatively impacting 59 per cent of working women aged between 45-55 in the workplace, making HRT more accessible may encourage more women to seek treatment and support sooner, rather than suffering in silence.”

Currently, a woman must pay £19 a month for an HRT prescription but this looks set to change to around £19 annually.

Source: Marie Claire

(Link via original reporting)

Vicky Walker’s quote and links via Westfield Health