See licensed Canadian doctors for PMS & PMDD treatment online

Maple is a virtual care platform that connects you with doctors and other healthcare providers via text, audio, or video. After you log in to your Maple account, you can request an online consultation.

Consultations work similarly to in-person appointments — the doctor can complete an assessment by asking questions about your symptoms, going through your health history, and determining what treatment is right for you. If they think your condition is more serious, they may tell you to go to a clinic for an in-person examination.

As a Maple member, you get 24/7 access to virtual primary care online and more. You can connect with our network of providers via text, audio, or video call within minutes.

Our membership costs $79.99/month and covers virtual care for patients and their families, including the primary account holder's spouse and any dependents.

For patients in eligible provinces, our membership includes:

• Access to daily primary care provider visits: One daily visit with a primary care provider for each family member in their household.
• Paediatric care: Covered paediatric primary care visits, available by appointment.
• Second medical opinions: access to a network of experts for a second opinion if diagnosed with a complex condition (e.g. cancer).
• Personal Health Check-Ins: A series of personalized, evidence-based proactive care screenings to maintain and improve health.
• iCBT courses: Access to iCBT (internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy) self-assessment and courses.
• Access to specialists in eligible provinces: Easy access to specialists on Maple within days, not months. No referral is needed.
• Specialist referrals in eligible provinces: Ability to be referred to a physician specialist for in-person care, if needed.
• Credit discounts: An $80 credit per month to be applied to a Maple specialist visit.

Please note that our membership cannot be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. In some cases, membership fees can be covered by a Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) — check with your HSA provider for more details.

We accept all major credit cards, including AMEX cards, as well as Google and Apple Pay.

At Maple, we proudly prioritize privacy as a cornerstone of our virtual care services. We strictly adhere to privacy and healthcare legislation in Canada, such as PIPEDA and PHIPA regulations, to ensure patients' personal and health information remains completely private and safeguarded.

Our policies and consent processes are designed to be simple and easily understood, empowering individuals with control and a clear understanding of their healthcare journey. When using our services, a patient’s session is protected by a comprehensive security infrastructure and stringent data policies.

Patients also retain full control of their personal health information, medical records and test results at all times. Our approach is reinforced by consultations with leading experts, guaranteeing comprehensive policy frameworks that are reviewed at a regular cadence.

All providers delivering healthcare through Maple are licensed in Canada and governed by their licensing regulatory colleges, and in all instances, must act in accordance with the governing principles set out in the telemedicine policies of each medical regulator in the applicable province.

Regulators across Canada support and recognize the value of services like ours, and the way in which they can benefit patients, physicians, and Canada’s broader healthcare system by improving access to care and increasing efficiencies in the delivery of care.

Yes, a Maple doctor can help you treat PMS and PMDD on Maple. A PMS or PMDD diagnosis can often be made after the doctor learns more about your history of physical and emotional discomfort around the time of your menstrual cycle. If you seem to be at risk for any other emotional or physical complications, the doctor may suggest further tests, either through Maple or in person.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is the onset of physical and emotional discomfort approximately one week before the beginning of menstruation. Most notably, PMS can cause mood swings in the days leading up to menstruation. PMS symptoms usually disappear when menstruation begins.

Premenstrual dysmorphic disorder is a period of severe emotional disturbance leading up to menstruation. PMDD causes symptoms of depression, anxiety and irritability that usually lessens when menstruation begins.

Women with PMDD often experience serious declines in their mental health that make it difficult for them to carry out daily tasks and socialize with friends, family and colleagues.

Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and PMDD symptoms are similar, but the main difference is that PMDD symptoms are much more severe. PMS causes mild depression and manageable anxiety. As a result, PMS treatment can sometimes be as simple as making a few changes to everyday habits like exercise and diet.

PMDD can cause feelings of deep anxiety and depression that are often hard to overcome, and sometimes lead people towards self harm. That’s why antidepressants are often a recommended PMDD treatment.

PMS symptoms include:

• Mood swings
• Irritability
• Trouble sleeping
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Nausea
• Abdominal bloating
• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• Tender breasts
• Acne
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Food Cravings
• Joint pain
• Muscle pain

The cause of PMS and PMDD are still unknown. Some studies relate a drop in serotonin — which is a chemical our brains release when we’re happy — to hormonal changes that happen in the body before menstruation begins. This might be the reason mood instability happens so often during PMS and PMDD.

Both medicine and lifestyle changes can be treatments for premenstrual syndrome. Some PMS symptoms, like nausea, can be treated with over the counter medications. Mood swings related to PMS can sometimes be reduced by increasing exercise, proper rest, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol.

Sometimes people need prescription medication to help rebalance their emotions. In this case, antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) might be prescribed, usually as treatment for premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Zoloft and Celexa are examples of SSRIs used as PPMD medication.

PMS usually lasts for about 7-14 days before the start of menstruation.

PMDD and PMS can mimic other disorders like depression, so to differentiate, it’s important to ensure that feelings of low mood are only happening in the weeks leading up to menstruation. If these feelings are more constant, the mood imbalance may be chronic, and not correlated to PMS or PMDD.