Womens health

HRT shortages made worse by long-term prescribing, says PSNC

Exclusive: Mike Dent, director of pharmacy funding at the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, said that demand for HRT prescriptions is outstripping supply more than previously, following the announcement of changes to prescription charges.…

Pharmacists preventing access to emergency contraception on ‘cultural and religious’ grounds, government told

Examples provided in response to a call for evidence to inform the 'Women's Health Strategy for England' included pharmacists "preventing or dissuading girls and women from using emergency contraception on cultural or religious grounds”.…

Nearly 50 women in England prescribed sodium valproate during pregnancy in 12-month period

Fewer women were prescribed sodium valproate, which can cause birth defects, during pregnancy in 2020/2021, compared with the previous year, but concerns remain that the number is still too high.…

MPs vote in favour of continued online provision of medical abortion drugs

Temporary measures to allow women to have early-stage abortions at home following a video consultation during the COVID-19 pandemic will now be made permanent.…

Long-acting reversible contraception

How pharmacists can educate patients about long-acting reversible contraception and support their decisions through effective consultations.…

Supported content

Community pharmacies to provide women’s health services in Scotland

The 'Women's health plan' sets out the Scottish government's plans for improvements to sexual health, menstrual health, menopause, endometriosis and heart health.…

RPS calls for more research on how medicines work in women

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has published a position paper calling for more representation of women in clinical research and stigma associated with women's health issues to be removed.…

Just 14 pharmacies failed GPhC inspections for shortfalls linked to valproate since 2018/2019, figures show

Exclusive: Only 14 out of 6,800 inspected pharmacies failed in relation to valproate precautions during the period 2018–2021.…

‘The menopause can be overwhelming’ – a day in the life of a women’s health pharmacist

When Lindsey Lester became aware of the lack of quality advice given to women about the menopause, she decided to do something about it.…

New estimates for breast cancer risk associated with HRT

New estimates of the increased risks of breast cancer associated with use of different hormone replacement therapy preparations have been published in the BMJ.…