What is Gina and how do I use it?

Gina, a brand of vaginal oestradiol (oestrogen), is a small tablet that’s inserted into your vagina. It is used to treat vaginal dryness, soreness and itching, and is available without a prescription for some women in the UK.

How does Gina work?

Gina releases a low dose of oestradiol directly to your vaginal wall to help relieve symptoms such as itching, burning, soreness, dryness and painful sex. These occur when there is a drop in oestradiol (and testosterone) levels during perimenopause and menopause, which can cause your vaginal walls to become thin, dry and inflamed. Gina contains oestradiol, which is the same type of oestrogen naturally produced by your ovaries.

RELATED: UTIs and menopause: what’s the link?

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 usually move to a maintenance dose of one tablet twice per week, leaving three or four days between each dose.

What doses does Gina come in?

Each vaginal tablet contains 10 micrograms of oestradiol.

What are the benefits?

Gina works by replacing lost oestradiol, which starts to decline during 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 usually restored.

RELATED: More than a little vaginal dryness: how vaginal hormones can transform lives

Who is Gina suitable for?

Gina can be bought by those aged 50 and over, who haven’t had a period for at least a year. There are rules that apply when buying Gina. The pharmacist will need to ask you a few questions from a checklist to make sure that it can be bought under the criteria. 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 would rather not answer these questions at the counter, you can ask to speak with the pharmacist in their consultation room.

RELATED: Gina vaginal oestrogen available over the counter: what you need to know

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 and testosterone or it can be used on its own.

RELATED: Vaginal hormones: what you need to know

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.

If your symptoms do not settle or worsen then you should see a doctor.

Resources

Gina

NHS: About vaginal oestrogen

BNF: Estradiol