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Women's Health & Family Planning

Women's Health & Family Planning

Everyday women's health and family planning products in one place: emergency contraception, yeast and vaginal infection treatments, pregnancy, fertility and menopause tests, condoms and lubricants, period and intimate care, plus prenatal, fertility and menopause supplements from NFH, Materna, Bioclinic Naturals and Designs for Health. Orders ship discreetly across Canada.

Emergency contraception

Plan B, Contingency One and Backup Plan Onestep each contain a single 1.5 mg levonorgestrel tablet and are sold without a prescription in Canada. Take it as soon as possible after unprotected sex: it works best the sooner it is taken and is meant for use within 72 hours. It is not an abortion pill and does not protect against sexually transmitted infections. Health Canada has advised that levonorgestrel pills may be less effective at higher body weights (from about 75 kg). If that applies to you, or more than 72 hours have passed, ask a pharmacist or doctor about other options such as a copper IUD.

Yeast infections and vaginal health

Single-dose oral pill: fluconazole 150 mg (CanesOral, Apo-Fluconazole, Jamp-Fluconazole), one capsule taken once.
Vaginal creams: clotrimazole (Canesten, Clotrimaderm) and miconazole (Monistat) in 3-, 6- and 7-day courses. External creams relieve itching outside the vagina.
Bacterial vaginosis: CanesBalance gel is made for BV, which is a different condition from a yeast infection.
Itch relief and daily care: Vagisil creme, wipes and pH-balanced washes.

See a doctor or pharmacist before treating yourself if it is your first yeast infection, you are pregnant, you have fever or pelvic pain, or infections keep coming back. Oral fluconazole is not recommended during pregnancy.

Pregnancy, fertility and menopause tests

Home pregnancy tests (Clearblue, LifeClues) detect the pregnancy hormone hCG in urine. For the most reliable result, test on or after the day your period is due, using first-morning urine. LifeClues also makes an FSH menopause test and a male fertility (sperm concentration) screening test. A home test is a screening tool; confirm results with your healthcare provider.

Condoms and lubricants

Latex condoms from Trojan, Durex, LifeStyles and Magnum. Condoms help protect against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Use water-based or silicone-based lubricants (K-Y, Love My Iris, Good Clean Love, SKYN) with latex condoms; oil-based products can weaken latex.

Planning a pregnancy or pregnant

Health Canada recommends that anyone who could become pregnant take a daily multivitamin with 0.4 mg of folic acid, ideally starting at least three months before conception. During pregnancy, a prenatal multivitamin with folic acid and 16–20 mg of iron is recommended. Many people also add DHA, an omega-3 important for a baby's brain and eye development. Your doctor may recommend a higher dose of folic acid if you have certain risk factors.

Fertility and PCOS

Fertility formulas combine nutrients such as CoQ10, antioxidants and myo-inositol. Myo-inositol is widely used by people with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) to support healthy ovulation and blood sugar balance. Talk to your healthcare provider about the right plan for you.

Cycle, hormones and menopause

Chaste tree (vitex): traditionally used in herbal medicine for PMS symptoms.
DIM and I3C: compounds from cruciferous vegetables, used to support healthy estrogen metabolism.
Black cohosh and phyto-estrogen blends: used to help relieve menopause symptoms such as hot flashes. Black cohosh carries a Health Canada label warning about rare liver problems.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking herbal products if you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or using hormonal birth control or hormone therapy.

Period and intimate care

Pads, liners and tampons from Always, U by Kotex and Tampax, light bladder-leak pads from Poise, and intimate washes and wipes from Vagisil, Summer's Eve and pH-D.