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Original poster

Private HRT massive price increase.

30 replies

Fuckmyliferightnow · 09/05/2026 12:05

I have been using the Newson Clinic for my HRT since 2022 and have had a great experience, helpful Drs and no problems accessing my HRT.
The pharmacy they use has put the price of 1 bottle of Oestrogel up to £23.99.
so my prescription in February cost £209 for 3 months of Oestrogel and Utrogestan, it now costs £280.

I was already having to save like crazy on my minimum wage. The problem is, if I don’t have HRT, I’m not able to do my job.
I can’t believe it, I feel sick.
My GP won’t prescribe it because of higher risk factors, so I’m screwed basically.
Anyone else able to get it cheaper?
What has your experience been with private HRT?

OP posts:
Original poster
Fuckmyliferightnow · 10/05/2026 06:12

Thatsanotherfinemess1 · 09/05/2026 23:44

The price was on my gp's system when I had a review at Christmas. It came up specifically because I had a couple of spare boxes that were about to go out of date so I asked him to only prescribe oestrogel until I'd used them. He showed me the cost on-screen and said it would cost more in nhs time to change the prescription to delete the progesterone and then change it again to add it in a couple of months time, and for the sake of 3x£3.60 I might as well throw them away and continue to get progesterone and oestrogel alongside each other

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I can’t believe the markup on private pharmacies Angry

OP posts:
JinglingSpringbells · 10/05/2026 07:55

Fuckmyliferightnow · 10/05/2026 06:12

I can’t believe the markup on private pharmacies Angry

Show quote history

It's possibly not as it looks .

The NHS has a huge buying power and gets drugs at below the true cost.

The cost to the pharmacy to buy the drugs is most more than the NHS pays for them, but the pharmacy gets paid for dispensing prescriptions.

I've had private prescriptions for years. Utrogestan was around 30p a tablet when I started using it and has now gone up to around 60p (in over 10 years.)

The cost always includes a mark up which can be up to 50% of the cost of the drug.

Online pharmacies are the worst. I've seen 30 Utrogestan for well over £20 which is ridiculous.

I think if you possibly can, you have to ask the clinic to post you a prescription.
If they won't do that you have two options

1 See another GP and fight your case.
2 See another private consultant and get your prescriptions on paper so you can take them anywhere.

Original poster
Fuckmyliferightnow · 10/05/2026 10:34

JinglingSpringbells · 10/05/2026 07:55

It's possibly not as it looks .

The NHS has a huge buying power and gets drugs at below the true cost.

The cost to the pharmacy to buy the drugs is most more than the NHS pays for them, but the pharmacy gets paid for dispensing prescriptions.

I've had private prescriptions for years. Utrogestan was around 30p a tablet when I started using it and has now gone up to around 60p (in over 10 years.)

The cost always includes a mark up which can be up to 50% of the cost of the drug.

Online pharmacies are the worst. I've seen 30 Utrogestan for well over £20 which is ridiculous.

I think if you possibly can, you have to ask the clinic to post you a prescription.
If they won't do that you have two options

1 See another GP and fight your case.
2 See another private consultant and get your prescriptions on paper so you can take them anywhere.

Show quote history

Thank you, I’m thinking of changing GPs anyway as they are very unwilling in a lot of areas. I’ll email the clinic and get my prescription.

OP posts:
Sidge · 10/05/2026 14:37

Fuckmyliferightnow · 10/05/2026 06:10

In The guidelines it says people who’ve had er+ breast cancer can be prescribed HRT in severe cases. This has been the case for me and still they won’t prescribe.

Show quote history

I imagine your GP feels that would be beyond their remit and would need prescribing by a gynae-oncologist or specialist menopause service in secondary care.

99victoria · Yesterday 20:32

I pay privately for my HRT as my GP wouldn't prescribe it due to being on BP meds. Fortunately, a lovely female GP I saw privately said that was rubbish and prescribed for me. She sends my prescription to me electronically and I take it to my local pharmacy. I pay £85 for 3 months of evorel conti patches and £38 for 3 months of utrogestan

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