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Original poster

Plane security and hrt gel???

21 replies

Railwayroad · 27/01/2023 06:47

I am flying to Europe this weekend. Just cabin bags. What do I do about my Oestrogel?? It’s in a big tube?

it is clearly prescribed as has pharmacy label on it. Will security let me through? Any experience?

maybe I need to post on travel section?

OP posts:
SalviaOfficinalis · 27/01/2023 06:48

Can you decant some into a little tube/pot instead of taking the whole tube?

Original poster
Railwayroad · 27/01/2023 06:52

Not really. It’s a pump tube so it needs to pump as that gives me the dose.

OP posts:
CeeceeBloomingdale · 27/01/2023 06:52

Is it over 100mls? They will let it through with a doctors letter, probably also a copy prescription if it's too short notice for a letter.

Original poster
Railwayroad · 27/01/2023 06:53

Thanks. I should have done a search. Lots of similar threads on here!

OP posts:
AuntieJoyce · 27/01/2023 06:54

I carry mine through all the time. I just put it in the tray separate to my plastic bag full of toiletries. I’ve never been asked about it but if I was I just say it was prescription medication

borntobequiet · 27/01/2023 07:04

They sometimes make a big deal of it, it’s very annoying. Make sure the prescription label is on it.
I asked my GP for a one-off prescription of Sandrena sachets, fiddly to use but much easier for travelling. That supply will easily last me a year of foreign travel.

Spotsstripes · 27/01/2023 07:08

My family carry lots of medication abroad. We've found for any creams and liquids that a copy of the prescription that corresponds to the label is enough. Doctors letters usually have to be requested in advance (cost money) so we usually use them to cover medical equipment such as machines, syringes and needles. They are always most concerned about the bottle of lactulose. As a side note if they take ghe lids off to check make sure they put the lids back on!

GreenSalon · 27/01/2023 07:18

I flew at Christmas from Bristol airport and security told me that there was no issue with HRT gel but just to ensure it’s in a separate clear bag and not with other toiletries. You can have two clear bags if one includes your medication.
DC1 takes a controlled medication and the pharmacist gave us a photocopy of his prescription and said that will usually suffice as evidence but no one checked.
I do take oestrogen/testosterone etc in the box as it has the pharmacy label on it. It’s a bit of a pain to carry gels as I fly reasonably regularly but not enough to make me switch back to patches.

TheDogsMother · 27/01/2023 07:22

I just decant some into a small 100 ml clear pump container.

Tinytigertail · 27/01/2023 07:25

It's fine to take through, it's a big container but actually the contents are under 100ml and it does say so on the back. I regularly travel with mine in my hand luggage and have never had an issue.

EBearhug · 27/01/2023 07:33

I flew through Gatwick and Schipol last weekend. Toiletries and electronics can now be left in your hand luggage, and you could take a bottle of water through. (This was much more exciting than it should have been.) So rules are changing, but I don't know if it's at all airports yet.

I'd still have everything in a clear plastic bag, though, not least in case anything leaks. I was very glad of that when one of mine leaked.

Roselilly36 · 27/01/2023 07:36

Take a copy of the prescription, or the repeat prescription slip with you,it will be fine. Don’t try to decant, as the dose may not be correct. Have a great trip.

borntobequiet · 27/01/2023 07:36

The Oestrogel packs say 80g and not everyone understands that means less than 100 ml, though one Spanish security guard waved it through for me stating this.

A few years ago the gel caused regular problems for me and for my DD (prescribed HRT in her 30s after a hysterectomy) when travelling, especially out of this country, but the situation has improved recently. Maybe there has been some guidance given.

electricmoccasins · 27/01/2023 07:40

They just asked me if was prescription. I said yes. Waved me through. Make sure it’s in original box with the prescription label on.

Original poster
Railwayroad · 27/01/2023 08:25

Thanks all

OP posts:
JinglingSpringbells · 27/01/2023 08:30

The total amount in the pump is 80mls. It's listed on the outside of the carboard carton.

No issue :)

JinglingSpringbells · 27/01/2023 08:31

The Oestrogel packs say 80g and not everyone understands that means less than 100 ml,

Millilitres and milligrams are the same when it comes to quantities.

borntobequiet · 27/01/2023 15:06

JinglingSpringbells · 27/01/2023 08:30

The total amount in the pump is 80mls. It's listed on the outside of the carboard carton.

No issue :)

No it’s not. It’s listed in grams.
And as I pointed out, not everyone is familiar with the equivalence of g and ml.

BatshitCrazyWoman · 31/01/2023 10:33

I had my Oestrogel removed and 'tested' by security at Heathrow. It was in its box with the prescription label on it and I had a copy of the prescription. Made no difference. I was allowed to have it back as it 'passed' the test (no idea what the test was). I did tell him it was a prescription medication. Apparently that makes no difference.

They really need to standardise the policy!

BitOutOfPractice · 31/01/2023 10:37

I’ve only ever been questioned once about it. I just showed them the prescription on the nhs app and it was fine.

maybe they’ve been told that menopausal women are not the group to mess with 😬

BatshitCrazyWoman · 31/01/2023 10:47

BitOutOfPractice · 31/01/2023 10:37

I’ve only ever been questioned once about it. I just showed them the prescription on the nhs app and it was fine.

maybe they’ve been told that menopausal women are not the group to mess with 😬

I was pretty assertive with the security guy 'testing' my Oestrogel 😂

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