Pharmacy Daily | A new era in women’s health?

VIDACORP Chemists' Own recently launched a range of self-testing devices focusing on women's health concerns, providing an indication of issues that may need follow-up with a doctor or pharmacist.

"Our goal is to provide quick, efficient, and accurate results to consumers wanting to take control over their health in a way that is comfortable and suits their lifestyle," said VidaCorp Chemists' Own Senior Brand Manager, Francis Hallett.

"These results will not only benefit Australians but empower them to advocate for their own health needs and seek proactive support from medical professionals through these pioneered self-testing devices."

With five tests now available at select local pharmacies across Australia, users can assess iron levels, vitamin D levels, urinary tract infections (UTIs), FSH levels, and vaginal pH, which helps with diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis.

Shelly Horton (pictured), media personality and author of perimenopause book I'm Your Peri Godmother, told Pharmacy Daily that she was approached about promoting the tests and embraced the chance to help other women take more control over their health.

She explained that when she started experiencing perimenopause symptoms, her GP thought it may have been cancer and referred her for an ultrasound.

The test was clear but the symptoms worsened, and it was almost a year later that she went to another GP who prescribed menopause hormone therapy - and the symptoms resolved.

"I felt I had slipped through the cracks, and I'm sure there are lots of other women who are slipping through the cracks.

"I wanted to take a bit more control over my health, so when I was approached about these tests, I tried them first - because I don't endorse anything that I don't believe in - and I think that there's a number that would have been helpful for me."

Having had an ablation, Horton believed the FSH test could have helped her recognise that her symptoms may be menopause-related, as the usual definition of menopause as being 12 months without a period did not apply.

"So my only way of really knowing would be my FSH levels, but I don't really want to go back to a doctor every three months to check my FSH levels."

She also believed the UTI test could have been handy when she had an infection related to menopause symptoms.

More generally, she is excited by community pharmacy's increasing interest in women's health issues, such as Priceline's Anything Menopause program (PD 26 Sep).

"I feel that pharmacists are often the people that you'll have a quiet word to if you're worried about something, before you even go to a GP," Horton said.

"To have pharmacists educated about it makes me so happy and excited for women who are in the trenches right now." KB