Gina vaginal oestrogen: what you need to know

• Gina is a brand of vaginal oestrogen available over the counter
• It delivers a low dose of estrogen directly to your vaginal wall to ease symptoms such as itching, soreness and dryness
• Advice on how and when to use Gina, and who it is suitable for

Gina is a brand of vaginal oestrogen used to treat vaginal dryness, soreness and itching, and is available without a prescription in the UK.

How does Gina work?

Gina is a small tablet which is inserted into your vagina using an applicator. It releases a low dose of oestrogen directly to your vaginal wall and helps relieve the symptoms of vaginal atrophy such as itching, burning, soreness, dryness and painful sex.

Vaginal atrophy is a condition which occurs due to a drop in estrogen levels during the perimenopause and menopause which can cause your vaginal walls to become thin, dry and inflamed.

When and how do I use Gina?

You insert Gina into your vagina using a pre-loaded, single-use applicator. For the first two weeks, you use one tablet each day. After that, you can move to a maintenance dose of one tablet twice per week, leaving three or four days between each dose.

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What doses of Gina are available?

Each vaginal tablet contains 10 micrograms of estradiol, which is the same type of estrogen naturally produced by your ovaries.

What are the benefits?

Gina works by replacing lost oestrogen, which starts to decline during the perimenopause. Within two weeks of use, the pH levels in your vagina should start to rebalance, and symptoms should begin to resolve after eight weeks as natural elasticity and moisture are restored.

Who can buy Gina?

Gina can be bought by those aged 50 and over, who haven’t had a period for at least a year. As it’s available over the counter, stricter rules apply when buying Gina.

The pharmacist will need to ask you a few questions from a checklist to make sure that it’s suitable. You can expect to be asked about your symptoms, your age, how long it has been since your last period and if you are taking any other medications. If you’d rather not answer these questions at the counter, you can ask to speak with the pharmacist privately.

Some women will still need a prescription of this preparation from a healthcare professional. This includes those who have had breast, endometrial or ovarian cancer, blood clots, heart disease, liver disease or stroke. Also younger women will need a prescription.

Gina can be used in addition to HRT patches, gels, sprays or tablets or it can be used on its own.

Can I expect any side effects?

Like all medicines, Gina can cause some side effects – but not everyone is affected. At first you may notice some irritation and discharge, but this usually settles.

References

Gina

Seeking support and care from a healthcare professional

If you need menopause treatment advice, seek help from your healthcare professional or book an appointment with Newson Health.

Newson Health offers evidence-based treatment and care for women going through the perimenopause and menopause. With clinics nationwide we offer in-person and virtual consultations. We are also able to see patients who reside outside the UK following a first appointment either face-to-face in one of our clinics or virtually while in the UK.* All follow-up consultations can then be held virtually in the country you resided in.

Our team of menopause specialist doctors, nurses and pharmacists will take time to listen to you, discuss your symptoms and offer a comprehensive treatment plan, tailored to your needs and preferences.

Use the button below to find out more and book your appointment.

*This doesn’t currently apply to residents of the US and Canada. All medication will need to be sent to a UK postal address; this includes PO Box addresses.