Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: collysully on October 28, 2019, 06:51:12 PM
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Hi, I'm a new member from America. Is it true that oestrogel/estrogel and utrogestan can be purchased over the counter in Spain?
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It is indeed true and I've bought Utrogestan and Oestraclin (it's the same as Oestrogel) over the counter many times myself along with other types of HRT.
I will bump up my thread.
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Yes indeed collysully - all sorts of goodies available, including some nit available in the UK. The Spanish appear to have a more enlightened approach to hrt and trust that women at this stage of life are no fools. They also have excellent pharmacists who are more than happy to have a consultation with you on your specific needs and your stage of menopause. I haven't ever had to pay for this service but there may be some pharmacists who charge.
MaryG will be able to advise.
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Thank you so much for this information! Do you just go into the pharmacy and ask for it?
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Do you know if they also sell things like ovestin and vagifem over the counter?
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I've bought Ovestin and Estring over the counter in Lanzarote so would imagine Vagifem is also available.
Lanzalover x
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Thats good to know for those long winter breaks, wont have to come back for presciption.
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Yes indeed collysully - all sorts of goodies available, including some nit available in the UK. The Spanish appear to have a more enlightened approach to hrt and trust that women at this stage of life are no fools. They also have excellent pharmacists who are more than happy to have a consultation with you on your specific needs and your stage of menopause. I haven't ever had to pay for this service but there may be some pharmacists who charge.
MaryG will be able to advise.
It's not a question of Spain being more enlightened kilted cupid - more like lacking in regulation. Obviously it goes without saying that the fact that they do (sell it OTC without question and without a prescrption) is brilliant for women in UK already on hrt - because it means those women who are lucky enough to be able to holiday there can top up their supplies in the face of these appalling shortages. Neither is it a question of not being fools. Not all women have sufficient knowledge about HRT and the fact that eg you can buy oestrogen without progestogen (if this is the case) is simply risking (some) women's health. it is available on prescription in UK and elsewhere for a reason and so women can be properly prescribed and their health while on it monitored ( in theory!). As I reported elsewhere you can buy it also OTC in France - but using your UK prescription (not sure whether this will be possible after the B word) - which of course is the most sensible approach.
I am pleased that women in UK (and elsewhere?) have been able to get their much needed supplies (of patches) while travelling. :)
However local (topical) oestrogen I think probably could be available OTC at least after consultation with a pharmacist - but this would probably make it more expensive - for Vagifem anyway as it's more expensive than prescription charge.
Collysully - :welcomemm:. I'm not sure why you are asking this as none of these products are on the shortage list in UK - but maybe they are in the US and you need to top up while travelling as some women here have done for patches? if you have not been prescribed HRT by a doctor in the first instance then good idea to see a doc first before starting?
Hurdity x
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collysully - they also have a product called Intrarosa available OTC in Spain. It's a relatively new product for VA. I'm using it just now as Vagifem irritates me. I love it. If you google the name you'll get all the product info.
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collysully, as KiltedCupid so rightly says, it's brilliant being able to buy HRT over the counter and without a prescription in Spain and I hope you can benefit from it as so many others have. There are no HRT shortages either as far as I'm aware. Long may it continue.
As an added bonus, I think you will find Spain considerably cheaper than the US.
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I would love to try Ovestin as so many ladies in the UK seem to get on very well with it. Unfortunately in Canada and US, Ovestin is not available. As for Intrarosa, it is under Prasterone in Canada and US. I plan to speak with my Dr. to see if I can get Prasterone and whether she thinks it's something to try. Kilted obviously is having great success with it.
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I would love to try Ovestin as so many ladies in the UK seem to get on very well with it. Unfortunately in Canada and US, Ovestin is not available. As for Intrarosa, it is under Prasterone in Canada and US. I plan to speak with my Dr. to see if I can get Prasterone and whether she thinks it's something to try. Kilted obviously is having great success with it.
Yes, I love it. I also like Ovestin - no irritation and just feels gentle, inside and out. Intrarosa seems the more effective though.
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Thank you so much for your input, ladies! My gyn is only prescribing generic patches and prometrium pills (like utrogestan). It's been difficult getting a prescription for estrogel from her. Even if I finally get it, it's over $112 for a tube of it.
Do you put the oestraclin, utrogestan, and intarosa in a checked bag to get them through security? I'm worried about getting these items back home. I'll be on a direct, non-stop flight between San Francisco and Barcelona.
Do the pharmacies take credit cards or just cash for these items?
Thank you in advance for your help.
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Hi, everyone!! I love this forum. You ladies are wonderful and so informed. I am being monitored by my gynecologist. She just is reluctant to prescribe estrogel and I'm tired of the patches.
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collysully, Oestrogel sounds hellishly expensive in the US, no wonder you want to buy it in Spain.
Firstly, you need to find a pharmacy and place an order because they usually only carry one or two boxes in stock. Your order should arrive at the pharmacy the next day and you can pay with a credit card. The vast majority of pharmacies in Spain will sell you HRT but if you have a problem, just go to a different pharmacy, there are loads of them. You need to ask for Oestraclin and it costs about €10.00 and comes in a red and white box.
You can pack the gel in your suitcase (checked baggage which goes in the hold) and you won't have any problems at the Spanish end but you might get turned over in the US. Assuming you buy about 10-12 boxes of gel and some other items, I would imagine it will be OK depending on the value of goods you are allowed to take into the US.
Hope that helps.
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collysully - I'd echo the advice MaryG has given. I live in the UK and when I've purchased products in Spain I put them in the checked bag. I've never had any problems entering UK with the products and I've also carried small amounts in hand luggage with no problems. I don't know how US customs work but if you have a prescription it might be worth taking it with you to explain your contraband!