Compare women's vitamins and multivitamins on the amount of each nutrient per daily dose, how that compares with the NRV, the iron and folic acid content, and the cost per day. Needs change with age and life stage, not with the label colour, so we show you what to check before you buy.
All men's & women's health · Multivitamins · Iron · Pregnancy vitamins · Vitamin D · Men's vitamins
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Do women need to take vitamins?
Most women don't need a multivitamin if they eat well: the NHS says most people should get all the nutrients they need by having a varied and balanced diet, although some people may need extra supplements. Two exceptions apply widely: vitamin D in autumn and winter, and folic acid if you could get pregnant.
The NHS says everyone should consider taking 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day during the autumn and winter. If you're unsure what you need, read our guide to what supplements you actually need.
What's the difference between women's and men's multivitamins?
The clearest difference is usually iron. The NHS says women aged 19 to 49 need 14.8mg of iron a day, while men and women aged 50 and over need 8.7mg, so a women's multivitamin often contains more iron than a men's one.
That means a "women's" formula may not suit you after the menopause, and a general multivitamin may suit you fine. Compare the nutrients, not who the pack is aimed at.
How much iron and folic acid should a women's multivitamin contain?
There's no single right amount, but the NHS says 17mg or less a day of iron from supplements is unlikely to cause any harm, and doses over 20mg can cause side effects such as constipation, feeling sick and stomach pain. Keep iron supplements out of reach of children.
If you could get pregnant, the NHS advises a 400 microgram folic acid supplement daily until you're 12 weeks pregnant, starting before pregnancy, and says 1mg or less a day of folic acid is unlikely to cause harm. The table shows the NRVs used on labels.
| Nutrient | NRV on the label | NHS figure for women |
|---|---|---|
| Iron | 14mg | 14.8mg a day (19 to 49), 8.7mg (50+) |
| Folic acid | 200 micrograms | 400 micrograms a day if you could get pregnant |
| Vitamin D | 5 micrograms | 10 micrograms a day in autumn and winter |
| Vitamin B6 | 1.4mg | 1.2mg a day; no more than 10mg from supplements |
NRVs are set in the food labelling rules. "We want customers to understand what they're taking rather than simply choosing the highest numbers on the label," says Andy Arshad, who runs SupplementHQ.
Are there vitamins for hormone balance?
No vitamin is authorised to balance hormones. The one relevant authorised claim is that "Vitamin B6 contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity", and it may only be used for a product that is at least a source of vitamin B6. It's a claim about vitamin B6, not about any formula that contains it.
This collection includes products marketed for PMS, perimenopause and menopause, and herbs such as shatavari, dong quai, black cohosh, chasteberry, maca, fenugreek and evening primrose oil. "Where evidence is limited or inconclusive, we should say so openly," says Andy.
Do supplements help with PMS or the menopause?
The evidence is thin. The NHS says supplements such as vitamin B6, calcium, vitamin D and magnesium may help with PMS, but there's not much evidence that they work, and that herbal remedies sold for menopause, such as black cohosh, have very little evidence to show how well they work, or how safe they are.
See your GP if PMS symptoms affect your daily life or lifestyle changes haven't helped, or if you think you have symptoms of menopause or perimenopause and want to know what your options are. The NHS warns some herbal remedies can cause serious side effects with other medicines, so check with your GP or pharmacist if you take any.
Tablets, capsules or gummies?
Choose the format you'll take every day, then compare the nutrients and cost per daily dose. Gummies are convenient, but they don't always contain the same minerals, such as iron, as tablets, so compare the full nutrient list.
How to compare value (example figures, not real products): a £10 tub of 90 tablets, one a day, costs about 11p a day. A £14 tub of 60 gummies, two a day, lasts 30 days and costs about 47p a day, more than four times as much, before you check whether both contain the same nutrients.
Which is the best women's multivitamin?
The best one for you contains the nutrients you need, at sensible amounts, for a reasonable cost per day. A higher %NRV or a premium brand doesn't automatically make a product better.
"Two products that look almost identical on the shelf can offer different value," says Andy. If you're pregnant, trying for a baby, breastfeeding, have a medical condition or take medication, speak to your GP, midwife or pharmacist first. Browse the full men's and women's health range.
We sell the products on this page. That's our commercial interest, and it's why we show the evidence alongside them. This page is general information for adults, not personalised medical advice. Food supplements should not replace a varied, balanced diet.
Written by Andy Arshad, SupplementHQ. Last reviewed 11 October 2026.