How to Develop Sexual and Reproductive Health App for Canadian Women: A Femtech Guide
1 week ago
You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about how healthcare is changing—especially for women like us in Canada.
These days, everything’s going digital, and honestly, it makes so much sense.
Whether it's getting birth control advice, tracking your cycle, or even talking to a doctor online, having all that support in an app is such a game changer.
But here’s the thing—not everyone can easily access sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services.
About 1 in 5 people in Canada say they struggle to get the care they need, just because of where they live or the social stigma around these topics.
And honestly? That doesn’t surprise me. There’s still so much shame and awkwardness around basic health needs.
At the same time, the women’s digital health market is booming. In 2021, it was worth over $4.2 billion globally—and it’s only getting bigger.
Just look at apps like Flo (150M+ users!) and Clue (worth $200M). Clearly, there’s a real demand for this kind of support.
Even the Canadian government is stepping up. They’ve put $1.7 million into projects to make SRH care more accessible.
Plus, they launched the Canadian Sexual and Reproductive Health Survey to better understand what we actually need.
All this tells me one thing: there’s a huge opportunity for startups to build sexual and reproductive health apps tailored to Canadian women.
Clue stands out as a comprehensive period & ovulation tracker.
Understanding the Canadian Landscape of Sexual and Reproductive Health
The Access Problem in Canada
Despite living in a developed country, many Canadians still face serious challenges when trying to get SRH care.
- Around 20% of people in Canada report difficulty accessing sexual health services.
- The main reasons? Geographic isolation and social stigma.
- That means people in rural areas or conservative communities often go without the care they need.
What the Government is Doing
Thankfully, the Canadian government is stepping up:
- Since 2021, they’ve provided over $81 million through the Sexual and Reproductive Health Fund.
- Starting in 2024-25, they’ll invest another $90 million over six years, with $20 million ongoing.
- This funding helps make SRH services culturally safe, inclusive, and easier to access—especially for:
- 2SLGBTQI+ communities
- Indigenous and racialized groups
- Women and youth
Key Focus Areas
The government is also working on improving:
- Safe abortion access
- Teen SRH education (especially combating misinformation)
- Menopause care with better tools and updated clinical guidelines
- Family planning and gender-based violence prevention
Listening to Women’s Voices
To better understand what women in Canada actually need, Statistics Canada launched the Canadian Sexual and Reproductive Health Survey (CSRHS). It collects insights from women aged 18 to 49 on:
- Menstruation
- Birth control
- Pregnancy planning
- Miscarriage, stillbirth, and abortion care
The data will help create more effective, targeted programs and policies.
What Canadian Women Really Want & How You Can Help
Women across Canada have diverse needs. These evolve throughout life—from puberty to menopause. Some common needs include:
- Cycle and fertility tracking
- STI testing and treatment
- Access to birth control
- Pregnancy and postpartum care
- Menopause support
But here’s something most of us also want: privacy and non-judgmental care. Many women prefer discreet ways to ask questions or get help—and digital health apps are perfect for that.
The Big Opportunity for Startups
This is where innovation matters. Startups that build secure, inclusive, and easy-to-use SRH apps can make a huge difference in Canadian women’s lives. Especially those that offer:
- Virtual consultations
- Discreet delivery of products
- Reliable and evidence-based health content
- Personalized care experiences
There’s a real chance to solve a very real problem—and create a meaningful impact.
Core Features Every Canadian SRH App Should Have
Here's what you should include, based on what works and what women actually want.
A. Learn from What’s Already Working
Apps like Flo and Clue are winning because they help users track their cycles, symptoms, and fertility in a smart and simple way.
- Flo even helps with pregnancy planning and offers personalized tips.
- Clue goes deeper with logging and insights—and even a community feature.
Then there’s Hers from Hims & Hers, combining telehealth and eCommerce.
- Women can chat with a doctor online, get advice, and order products discreetly—all in one app.
- Their user base grew by 80% thanks to this model.
B. Must-Have Features
Let’s break down what your SRH app must include:
1. Tracking Tools
- Track their period and cycle
- Predict ovulation
- Log symptoms to understand their body better
2. Telehealth
- Great for women in remote areas
- Even better for those who prefer private care
- Think personalized advice, no waiting rooms
3. eCommerce (Optional but Game-Changing)
Let users order products like:
- Birth control
- Supplements
- Other SRH essentials
4. Educational Content
Use trusted sources like SIECCAN to share:
- Easy-to-read health info
- FAQs
- Tips that actually help
5. Personalized Insights
Turn their tracking data into useful advice:
- “Hey, your cycle’s been irregular. Want to chat with a doctor?”
- “You might be ovulating this week—here’s what to know.”
6. Privacy & Data Security
- Use top-tier encryption
- Follow PIPEDA rules
- Make users feel safe
7. Community (Optional)
A moderated, anonymous space to ask questions or share stories helps users feel less alone.
8. Connect with Local Care
Include a directory of Canadian clinics and SRH providers.
- This bridges digital care with in-person support
- Helps build trust and continuity
Building an SRH app for Canadian women means balancing technology, privacy, and care.
Navigating Compliance: What You Need to Know Before Launching an SRH App in Canada
When building an SRH app in Canada, following privacy and healthcare regulations is a must—especially since you're dealing with sensitive personal health info.
Privacy First
- In Ontario, follow PHIPA.
- Across Canada, follow PIPEDA.
Your app must securely store and transfer data using strong encryption. We help run Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) and fix privacy gaps early.
Offering virtual care? Make sure your providers are licensed in the right provinces.
We’ll help you connect with verified professionals.
Selling Meds?
Planning to offer birth control or other prescriptions? You’ll need LegitScript-approved pharmacy partners. We can streamline that too.
In short: privacy, licensing, and pharmacy rules matter—and we help you stay compliant while building user trust.
Should You Build or Buy Your Sexual and Reproductive App?
When you start planning your sexual and reproductive health (SRH) app for Canadian women, one big decision will come up early:
Should you build the app from scratch or use a SaaS app? Let’s break it down.
Going the custom route means you get a solution that’s built just for you.
You can design every feature exactly the way your users need—like tailored tracking, telehealth tools that follow Canadian rules, or even eCommerce for contraceptives and supplements.
It also gives you total control over privacy and security.
So if you want to meet PHIPA and PIPEDA rules right from the core, this is the way to go.
Yes, it can take longer and cost more upfront. But in the long run?
A custom app can stand out, scale well, and give better ROI—especially if you're looking to grow and evolve with your users.
Tech & Infrastructure: No Matter What You Choose
- Strong backend to keep things running fast and smooth
- Secure database to protect sensitive health info
- Clean, user-friendly design for better engagement
- Scalability so your app grows with your users
- Full PHIPA/PIPEDA compliance to avoid any legal headaches
And if you're planning to offer prescriptions? We also help with LegitScript approval to keep everything legal and trusted.
Explore the images of the men’s health app we recently developed for one of our clients.
