Women's health
For information on screening for breast cancer, osteoporosis or menopause, please contact your CSSS. |
Breast cancer
Breast cancer ranks first among the types of cancer diagnosed in Québec women, where over 5000 new cases are reported every year. The chances of surviving breast cancer are continuing to improve.
Québec Breast Cancer Screening Programme
The free breast cancer screening programme is available for all women between the ages of 50 and 69, who will automatically receive a letter from the director of public health inviting them to have a mammography done in a designated screening centre. This letter serves as a medical prescription.
When you go for your appointment, you will be asked to fill out a consent form. You will then be registered with the Québec Breast Cancer Screening Program and be asked to have a mammogram done every two years.
For more information, speak to your doctor or contact the Regional Service Coordination Centre at 514 528-2424.
You can also obtain your own copy of the pamphlet on the Québec Breast Cancer Screening Program. Also visit the PQDCS page on this site. |
Contraception
Hormonal birth control
You can consult a nurse to obtain hormonal birth control (the pill, patches, contraceptive vaginal ring or contraceptive injection) in an institution that has issued a collective prescription for hormonal birth control, such as :
- a school or the health office of a college or university
- a CSSS or CLSC
- a medical clinic or Family Medicine Group (GMF)
- a hospital
- a youth centre
The nurse will assess your state of health. She will then give you information about birth control methods, help you choose the method that best meets your needs, and inform you about the hormonal contraception you have chosen. Finally, she will give you a form that will allow you to obtain the contraceptive at a pharmacy of your choice. This prescription will be valid for a period of six months.
If you experience any signs or symptoms after starting hormonal birth control that you didn't have before, don't hesitate to speak to a nurse or pharmacist. You may need to see a doctor.
After six months ...
The maximum period covered by the collective prescription is six months. You need to see a doctor before the end of this period to obtain a prescription.
The collective prescription cannot be extended after the six-month period nor can it be used to renew an expired prescription.
For help or more information, contact your CLSC or an Info-Santé nurse at 811.
For information on condoms as a contraceptive method, see "Contraception" on the "Men's Health" page.
Emergency oral contraception (morning after pill)
The morning after pill can be obtained from a doctor, nurse or pharmacist (without a prescription).
This is a backup method of birth control that can be taken a maximum of 5 days after unprotected sex. It is approximately 90% effective if taken as quickly as possible.
Although repeated use poses no known health risk, the morning after pill is not considered to be a regular method of birth control. It is only for emergency purposes. After taking it, you need to choose a more regular method to prevent unwanted pregnancies, such as condoms or the pill.
For more information, contact:
- a nurse at your school
- your CLSC
- Info-Santé at 811
- your pharmacist
Women's health organizations
Centre de santé des femmes de Montréal
The Centre de santé des femmes de Montréal is a community organization of women who work mainly in gynecological health. It provides voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion) services, contraception services, gynecological consultations, etc.
514 270-6110
Women's Centre of Montreal
The Women's Centre of Montreal helps women in need. It provides food and clothing assistance, linguistic integration services, legal information, and various workshops and training courses.
514 842-4780
