Women's Multivitamins

Multivitamins for Women

Multivitamins can offer a variety of vitamins and minerals in one product. For certain people who struggled to get enough nutrients from their diet alone, multivitamins can be useful for reaching nutritional goals. Some multivitamins are made specifically for women to provide nutrients that may be especially beneficial for them. Women’s multivitamins can come in many different forms, including gel, tablet, liquid, and gummy form. These are all available for purchase in stores or online at Walgreens.

What are multivitamins?

Multivitamins are a type of supplement designed to help people who have trouble consuming enough of certain nutrients from their diets. They contain many different vitamins and minerals in one dose with most multivitamins typically containing about 26 different vitamins and minerals. One dose of multivitamins usually offers 100% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for the various vitamins and minerals they contain.

While there are many women’s multivitamins to choose from, it is always smart to prioritize quality and safety. Check for labels that contain a seal of approval from testing services such as United States Pharmacopeia (USP), National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), Consumer Labs, and Underwriters' Laboratories (UL). These seals mean the vitamins contain the nutrients seen on the label. It also means that the product is free of harmful contaminants. All vitamins available at Walgreens are tested through reliable services to ensure quality. It’s important to speak with your healthcare provider if you have any questions about multivitamins.

Should women take multivitamins?

Some people get enough nutrients from a healthy diet, so not every woman needs to take a multivitamin. However, if you have trouble reaching you nutritional goals from diet alone, a multivitamin may be a good choice for you. Different populations such as men, women, and children may have different vitamin requirements, and women’s multivitamins are formulated to meet the specific needs of women’s health. Speak with your healthcare provider to learn more about women’s multivitamin and ask if they are the right option for you.

What are prenatal vitamins?

Prenatal vitamins are vitamins specifically made for women who are pregnant or looking to conceive. During pregnancy, it can be difficult for some people to reach nutritional goals for certain vitamins and minerals. Pregnant women need more of certain nutrients than other people, including folic acid and iron. Prenatal vitamins can also provide other important nutrients for pregnancy such as calcium, vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin A, zinc, and iodine.

By beginning prenatal vitamins before pregnancy, women can provide vitamins and minerals to their bodies and to the baby during the first month of pregnancy, often before women are aware that they are pregnant. It is important to speak with your healthcare provider before taking prenatal vitamins so they can help answer your questions and determine the right choice for you.

Are there side effects associated with women’s multivitamins?

By following the recommended dose on the label, most women are unlikely to experience side effects from women’s multivitamins. Be careful to monitor the different vitamins and minerals you are consuming through your diet and multivitamins so that you do not exceed the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for certain nutrients. Too much of certain vitamins and minerals can be harmful.

Prenatal vitamins often contain high iron doses to help support the development of the placenta and fetus, and iron can cause occasional constipation. If you are taking prenatal vitamins and experiencing constipation, consider drinking more liquids, consuming high-fiber foods, and speaking with your healthcare provider about other options such as stool softeners.