About Gina1
Gina is indicated for the treatment of vaginal atrophy (VA) due to oestrogen deficiency in postmenopausal women aged 50 and above who have not had a period for at least one year.
Gina is the only vaginal tablet available without a prescription that effectively treats the cause of postmenopausal vaginal dryness. It acts to relieve symptoms of VA including:
Contains |
Each film-coated vaginal tablet contains 10 micrograms of estradiol. Low dose estradiol in the same form as Gina has been available on prescription for over 30 years.2 |
Local oestrogen delivery |
The tablet is in a pre-loaded applicator; it works directly where it is applied by adhering to the vaginal mucosa for gradual and controlled release of vaginal oestrogen. The oestrogen stays within the vagina and low levels are released into the bloodstream. Gina contains 10 micrograms of estradiol and if continually used for 1 year it delivers an oestrogen dose of 1.14 milligrams per year. This oestrogen dose is roughly equivalent to one tablet of oral HRT.3 |
Checking suitability |
There is a checklist that can be used to check suitability, which can be downloaded here or at the end of this module. |
Dosage |
There are different dosage schedules to follow (described later on in this module), depending on whether Gina is being used for the first time, after a treatment break, or continued use. Each pack contains 24 pre-loaded applicators. A first pack lasts for 7 weeks and the maintenance dose for 3 months. |
Advice |
Patients that have never previously used a local oestrogen therapy may not see an improvement that they consider significant until after 3 months of treatment; however, Gina can significantly relieve women’s most bothersome symptoms in 8-12 weeks, so they may notice improvements earlier.4 Patients should discuss ongoing treatment with the pharmacist at every return visit to confirm it is still appropriate to use Gina. |
Mini quiz
Does Gina provide relief from vasomotor-related menopause symptoms such as hot flushes?