Women’s health has seen a renewed interest with two POM to P switch proposals over the last year, the progestogen-only oral contraceptive pill (now launched) and a vaginal hormone replacement therapy for menopause. There has also been a Government consultation on how to better support women with healthcare and address the gender health inequality gap. Continue reading to learn more about women’s health problems and solutions.
Women are more likely than men to seek help for medical problems and research has shown they are also the most likely ‘custodians’ of family health. This means they will visit your pharmacy to pick up something for their family as well as for themselves. And with the increasing availability of over the counter products for women’s health, there is real potential to make a difference to your patients.
Understanding women’s health and women as customers will help you to understand your biggest patient group.
What’s the aim of this course? (Women’s health problems and solutions)
This amazing course will allow you to provide your customers with the best products and advice that will enable them to manage common conditions under this topic. The course mainly focuses on period pain, thrush and cystitis. However, it will also cover other problems related to women’s health as well.
What’s the outcome of the women’s health problems and solutions course?
After completing this course, you will have the ability to:
- Advise your customers on common women’s health issues including bacterial vaginosis, period pain, thrush and cystitis.
- Give recommendations on the proper treatment for these conditions and offer referrals if need be.
- Advise on other well-known women’s health problems such as bladder weakness, emergency hormonal contraception, and chlamydia.
- Offer a huge array of women’s health services to your customers.
How long does the course take?
It will only take you about 20 minutes to complete this course. Videos have also been included to provide various learning styles and assist in enhancing learning. However, the videos are additional and optional.
What’s new on women’s health problems and solutions?
POM to P switches
A progestogen-only contraceptive pill containing desogestrel 75mcg has been reclassified as a pharmacy medicine by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the regulatory agency for medicines. Pharmacy salespersons are required to consult with pharmacists for all sales, but the whole team is trained to support the sale of these products, including point-of-sale material and leaflets. You should discuss your involvement with your pharmacist. The MHRA has also launched a public consultation on the reclassification of a vaginal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) tablet comprising estradiol for vaginal symptoms of menopause (e.g. dryness and thinning) and this product may also be available in pharmacies.
Menopause awareness
Several campaigns have been run to raise awareness of menopause and to make sure that women are supported during this time. The government announced in October 2021 that it would launch annual prescriptions for HRT. Women can save up to £200 a year on prescription costs by signing up for this service. Also, the NHS is considering introducing a single fee for combination hormone therapy. Also, employers are starting to realise that they need to improve their support for women during menopause in order to keep them in the workplace. Almost a third of women take sick leave because of menopause symptoms. This is according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
Women’s health problems & solutions in the pharmacy
There are many aspects to women’s health. It spans the different stages and ages of a woman’s life, from puberty to pregnancy and to menopause. In order to be able to propose and advise on products and services within this category, it is imperative to take a broader view of it. This may include:
- Emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) and Contraception
- Menopause
- Pregnancy and babycare
- Healthy Living Pharmacy advice (eg. weight, smoking, alcohol, exercise)
- Incontinence
- Patient Group Directions (PGDs) e.g. period delay
- Hair loss
The majority of your pharmacy’s customers are women who want advice and products for both themselves and members of their families as well. Making your pharmacy appealing to this category of customers will lead to repeat business and loyalty.
Sign Up and start the amazing course today! Get in touch with us for more information or if you have any questions.
This blog post was written on behalf of Mediapharm by Pharmacy Mentor.