HRT medicine to be sold over the counter for first time
Previously offered as prescription only, estradiol tablets, sold under the brand name Gina10, will now be available to women over the age of 50 who have not had a period for more than a year, as part of hormone replacement therapy treatment (HRT).
Pharmacists have been offered training to identify who needs the tablets.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) made the decision as part of a strategy to make menopause treatment more accessible for women.
Estradiol tablets treat vaginal symptoms caused by a lack of oestrogen, such as dryness, soreness, itching, burning and uncomfortable sex.
The product is inserted into the vagina rather than taken by mouth.
MHRA chief healthcare quality and access officer Dr Laura Squire called the move a "landmark reclassification for millions of women in the UK".
"In reaching this decision, we have seen positive support from a wide range of people, including many women aged 50 years and above who could benefit from this decision," she said.
The MHRA hopes the move will relieve pressure on front-line NHS services and give women more freedom in choosing treatments that work for them.
Source: BBC News, 8 September 2022