Women's Health & Feminine Care

A pregnancy test is most accurate when taken from the day of your missed period, when hormone levels are high enough to detect reliably. The pregnancy hormone hCG starts to appear in urine around six to eight days after a fertilised egg implants, but levels are very low at this early stage and can be easily missed. Testing with your first urine of the day, when hCG is most concentrated, gives the most reliable result. The Clearblue Pregnancy Test is more than 99% accurate from the day your period is due.

A true false positive is rare, but there are a few situations where it can happen. Reading the result after the recommended time window can reveal a faint evaporation line that's mistaken for a positive result, so it's important to follow the instructions closely. Certain fertility medications that contain hCG can also trigger a positive result, as can a chemical pregnancy, where a fertilised egg implants briefly but doesn't continue to develop, followed by a period arriving shortly after a positive test. If you get an unexpected result, it's worth retesting after a few days or speaking to a pharmacist or GP.

Period cramps happen when the muscles around the uterus contract to shed its lining, and an anti-inflammatory painkiller such as Feminax Express can provide fast relief. Its active ingredient, ibuprofen, works directly at the site of the pain to reduce the inflammation causing the cramping, rather than acting on the nervous system. Take one or two tablets with water, alongside or after food, up to three times a day. A hot water bottle and gentle movement, such as a short walk, can also help ease discomfort alongside pain relief.

Vaginal dryness is most often caused by a drop in oestrogen, which can happen during and after menopause, while breastfeeding, or with certain types of hormonal contraception, though it can affect women of any age. A moisturising cream such as Dr. Wolff's V-san Moisturising Cream can help relieve the dryness, burning and discomfort it causes. It's hormone-free, contains lactic acid to support the vagina's natural pH, and can be applied inside the vagina once a day or to the external area as needed.

Intimate skin has a naturally low pH, which helps protect it from irritation, and ordinary soaps and shower gels can disrupt this balance. A pH-balanced intimate wash such as Femfresh Wash is specially formulated to cleanse gently without upsetting this natural pH, and is dermatologically and gynaecologically tested for daily use. Femfresh Wipes offer the same pH-balanced formula in a portable format for freshness on the go.

No. Tampons should not be flushed, even ones labelled as flushable, as they can absorb water, expand and cause blockages in your pipes as well as contributing to sewage blockages and plastic pollution once they reach waterways. Used tampons, such as Tampax Compak, should be wrapped and disposed of in a bin instead. The same applies to sanitary pads like Always Ultra, which should also go in the bin rather than the toilet.

A menstrual cup is a reusable, cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to tampons and pads, made from soft, flexible silicone or rubber. Our Menstrual Cup comes in two sizes: Type A, more suitable for women who haven't given birth vaginally, and Type B, recommended for those who have. To insert it, fold the cup in half, insert it with the rim facing upwards, then rotate it so it springs open and forms a seal. It can be worn for six to twelve hours before being removed, emptied and cleaned, and lasts for years with proper care.

Tampons don't directly cause thrush, which is a yeast infection caused by an overgrowth of Candida fungus, but leaving one in for too long can disrupt the vagina's natural balance and make irritation more likely. Changing tampons, such as Tampax Compak, every four to eight hours and never exceeding eight hours of wear helps reduce this risk. If you notice itching, soreness or unusual discharge, it's worth checking with a pharmacist, as thrush treatment is available to buy from Pharmica.