TY - JOUR T1 - Estradiol vaginal tablets without prescription: a step forward JF - Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin JO - Drug Ther Bull SP - 98 LP - 98 DO - 10.1136/dtb.2022.000003 VL - 60 IS - 7 AU - Joanna Girling Y1 - 2022/07/01 UR - http://dtb.bmj.com/content/60/7/98.abstract N2 - The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recently conducted a public consultation on the proposal to reclassify Gina vaginal tablets, which contain 10 mcg of estradiol, from a prescription only medicine (POM) to a pharmacy (P) medicine.1 The proposed indication for the P product is ‘treatment of vaginal atrophy due to oestrogen deficiency in postmenopausal women aged 50 years and above, who have not had a period for at least 1 year’.2 This is the first hormonal product aimed at relief of local symptoms resulting from the menopause to be considered for this reclassification and is a welcome step forward in self-care.Vulvovaginal atrophy is associated with reduced oestrogen levels in vaginal tissue and is often accompanied by symptoms that include dryness, irritation of the vulva, burning sensation, dysuria, dyspareunia and vaginal discharge.3 Such symptoms can have a significant impact on a woman’s quality of … ER -