DHEA and Has anyone been prescribed HRT in the UK and obtained it in the EU?

[Instantcustard]

I'm losing the will to live trying to get HRT in Italy as doctors are so against it. Can I have it prescribed (privately) in the UK and still get it in Italy somehow?

Additional question- my gynaecologist has suggested taking the pill and DHEA instead but I'm not sure about DHEA. Does anyone else take it?

Hi, I can't answer your question but wanted to say I'm in Italy too and cannot get HRT either. I envy my British friends who all got it so easily of their GP without even seeing a Gyno.

I went to a state gino first who was dead against it, and told me to contact one of the two clinics in Milano that may offer it, but warned me usually it's 'only for Trans patients!' WTF! So then I went to a private Gine, who ordered me to have a Mammogram, MOC, bone scan, heart check up, liver scan and full bloods before she's even consider it. Haven't been back yet with the results it's taken over a year to do all those things.

In the meantime I've been on Flavia Luna from the pharmacy which has helped a bit. Once you know what dose you need, I wonder if a farmacia would give it without a ricetta? I can get antibiotics without one, so who knows. I am following this thread as we're in the same boat.

Thanks. Infuriating isn't it? We actually have a menopause clinic (state) but the only Dr working in it is male and insists on a pelvic exam before even considering HRT (which already pisses me off!) and apparently doesn't like prescribing it. I've been to see two private gynaes who I'd been told were open to HRT (and were expensive!). One refused because she said I was not suitable as I sometimes get migraines (once a year). The second refused as I'm not in full menopause but would prescribe DHEA - which is a whole other story....

I've been trying to find out more info online but, yes it does seem very much that you have to be trans to be considered! I hope you have better luck.

I've also been diagnosed with osteopoenia and offered no help with it, despite reading that HRT is meant to help. I'll look into Flavia Luna. At the moment I am taking the pill and an iron supplement for iron deficiency anaemia which together cost me about 60 euros a month. 😫

Very, very frustrating! Thanks for the heads up about migraines I get them rarely too, so will keep that one to myself. I once had a state pap test off a female gyne, who just happened to speak fluent English as she worked in one of those International health centres too, and maybe more 'open' to the idea of HRT. I mentioned I had bone pain to her and she said I may need hormones, this was before I was in menopause though, but I should try to find out who she is, maybe she's my answer. I can share if you're close to Milano? I've never heard of
DHEA, just reading up on it...

Yes I though HRT helped with Osteopenia, surely they know that 😡 Just to warn Flavia Luna costs me around €30 a month, bit cheaper from online pharmacies sometimes.

Hi - I have just sent you a msg (from a different username but it's me!)

@Instantcustard Have you thought about having a video consultation with a UK meno specialist?
Many now work that way ( as well as face to face) since lockdown when almost all appts were by video.

I can't be 100% sure on this but it's possible you could get your HRT this way.
Women in the UK who have private appts can also (usually) have their HRT posted to them by the pharmacy linked to the private clinic. I don't know the rules about sending drugs from the UK to Italy but I'd imagine it's okay.

You need a review now and then so could you manage one trip a year to the UK?
This might also be another means to get your HRT.
One private consultation and at least 6 months HRT to take back to Italy.

Could you afford it?

I've also read here that in Spain women can buy HRT over the counter, with no prescription needed.

Oh ladies this is nuts!! Agree that an online appointment with a uk based specialist and an initial private prescription is the way to go, once you have that initial prescription you can reorder from any online pharmacy. Do you have someone in the uk where you could have things posted then sent over??

southern Europe has a completely different attitude to menopause, Spain is just the same.

Thanks. @JinglingSpringbells I do come to the UK once a year which is what prompted the post but I don't want to have drugs sent from the UK as that is such a PITA after Brexit.

There must be a way round this.

If you come here once a year, is there anyone from the UK coming to visit you? They could bring it?

OR as flights can be very cheap to the UK, could you make another trip per year?

OR at a push you might get a year's supply if you see someone here, with a 6-month video review in between.

I went on holiday to France and forgot my hrt tablets. I was able to buy them over the counter in the pharmacy in France (near Carcassonne). This was about 5 years ago.

Yes, although presumably if there is a problem sending them by post, there is also the possibility they might be confiscated at an airport?

It's possible to buy online within Europe eg from Netherlands. Shipping no problem. Google online pharmacy hrt. Used it myself and works well. Can get online perscription by answering a few questions via form, an online doctor checks, then the medicines are sent.

You can definitely travel overseas with HRT in your hand luggage/baggage if that's what you mean. It's not an illegal drug. Women in the UK take their HRT with them when they go overseas (if this is what you mean.)

If you cannot get HRT in Italy and you desperately want it, you're going to have to come to the UK for it once or twice a year.

Legally you need an annual review (in the UK) of any meds.
Is it possible for you to come once, get 12 months' supply at your appt and have a review at 6 months by video?

That's the simplest solution.

Thanks everyone. Can anyone recommend a good Dr in the UK who would prescribe? Better still if they could do a follow up long distance!

My GP (Scotland) prescribed HRT as a preventative for osteoporosis. (Mum was dobled over with it and biphosphonates are not suitable for me.

I also live in southern Europe in a country with a similar attitude. HRT is not illegal, but it's mainly seen as something for those transitioning. I get my estrogen and progesterone no problem from an online clinic based in London - never been any problem at customs as the substances are not controlled. However, when I added in testosterone that was stopped at customs and I was told I need a prescription from a local doctor, not just the one in the UK. My GP agreed to write one for me, having received my notes from the UK doctor.

The pharmacy linked with the clinic told me that though they can send meds abroad, the list of countries allowed now is drastically reduced due to Brexit, but luckily my country is on it - the issue is Brexit rather than the meds themselves, excpet in the case of controlled substances, Might be worth looking into, though. As someone else said, ordering from an online pharmacy within the EU should also work.

To go back to DHEA, I had it suggested by an NHS doctor that I should take this and it made no difference whatsoever. I think the pill is more effective for hormone balancing but at the point of peri/menopause the risks with that grow. The pill is so much easier to get than HRT, which yet again suggests a female medical issue being viewed from the lens of a man (same with testosterone for low libido, the difficulty some women have getting HRT, the lack of adequate research on womens health).