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Women’s Health

Your health journey is uniquely yours, and we’re here to support you through every stage of life. Our comprehensive women’s health services are designed with your comfort, privacy, and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do.

Your comfort matters to us. If you’d prefer to discuss your women’s health concerns with a female GP, simply let our reception team know when booking your appointment. We’re committed to ensuring you feel completely comfortable and heard during your visit.

Menopause marks the end of your menstrual cycles, occurring when your ovaries stop releasing eggs and hormone levels change. While this typically happens in your early 50s, it can occur earlier due to genetics, medical treatments, or surgery.

Perimenopause – the transition phase – can begin years before your final period as your ovaries gradually produce fewer eggs.

You’re Not Alone in This Journey

Many women experience challenging symptoms including irregular or heavy periods, hot flushes, mood changes, sleep disruption, and vaginal dryness. These changes can feel overwhelming, but effective support is available.

Every woman’s menopause experience is different. Our approach considers your unique situation – your symptoms, lifestyle, relationships, and health goals. Treatment options range from lifestyle modifications and non-hormonal therapies to hormone replacement therapy.

You don’t have to struggle through this alone. With the right support, most symptoms can be significantly improved, helping you maintain your quality of life and wellbeing.

A Fresh Start for Your Health

Menopause can also be an opportunity to focus on your long-term health – from bone density and heart health to maintaining energy and vitality for the years ahead.

Ready to take the next step? Book an appointment with your GP to discuss your individual needs and explore your options.

Painful Periods

Period pain shouldn’t control your life. While some cramping is normal, severe pain that disrupts your daily activities, requires strong painkillers, or has suddenly changed isn’t something you have to endure.

What’s normal? Mild cramping for 1-2 days that responds to basic pain relief and doesn’t stop you from your usual routine.

When to seek help: Pain that’s severe, lasts longer, doesn’t respond to over-the-counter medication, or interferes with work, study, or activities you enjoy.

Heavy Periods

One in five women experience heavy periods, especially between ages 30-50. But “heavy” looks different for everyone.

Ask yourself:
  • Are you changing pads or tampons every hour or less?
  • Do you flood through protection regularly?
  • Are you getting up at night to change protection?
  • Do you pass clots larger than a 50-cent coin?
  • Does your period last more than a week?
  • Most importantly – are your periods controlling your life?

If you’re avoiding activities, missing work, or feeling anxious about your period, that’s not something you should accept as normal.

We Can Help

Whether it’s painful or heavy periods, effective treatments are available. From lifestyle approaches to medical options, we’ll work with you to find what works best for your situation.

Ready to take control? Book with your GP to discuss your options – you deserve periods that don’t run your life.

Planning ahead gives you the best chance of a healthy pregnancy and baby. Ideally, book a pre-pregnancy appointment 3-6 months before you start trying to conceive.

Key Steps for a Healthy Start

Optimize Your Health – We’ll review any existing health conditions, ensure your medications are pregnancy-safe, and update vaccinations as needed.

Essential Supplements – Start folic acid and iodine at least three months before conceiving. These are crucial for your baby’s brain and nervous system development. We’ll recommend the right supplements for you.

Lifestyle Support – If you or your partner smoke, drink heavily, or use other substances, we can help you quit. These can affect both fertility and pregnancy health.

Know Your Genetic Risk – Some couples carry genes for conditions like cystic fibrosis. Carrier screening can help you understand your risks and options (additional fees may apply).

When to Seek Support

If you’re under 35: Check in if you haven’t conceived after 12 months of trying

If you’re 35 or older: Come see us after 6 months of trying

Anytime: If you have concerns about fertility or just want reassurance

Remember, getting pregnant can take time – that’s completely normal. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

Ready to start planning? Book your pre-pregnancy appointment to set yourself up for the best possible outcome.

Cervical screening is one of the most effective ways to prevent cervical cancer. This simple test looks for HPV (human papillomavirus), which causes almost all cervical cancer cases.

About HPV

HPV is incredibly common – 4 in 5 Australians will have it at some point. It’s spread through skin-to-skin contact, usually has no symptoms, and typically clears up on its own. The good news? We now vaccinate against the high-risk strains.

When and How Often

Ages 25-74: Every five years if results are normal

Can’t remember your last test? We can check the screening register for you

Your Options

GP examination – Traditional screening in our clinic
Self-collection – You can now collect your own sample in privacy

Note: Self-collection isn’t suitable if you have unusual bleeding, discharge, or pelvic pain – we’ll need to examine you.

Due for screening? Book your appointment and take this important step for your health.

Barrier Methods
  • Condoms – The only method that prevents both pregnancy and STIs
  • Diaphragm – Reusable silicone cap that covers the cervix
Hormonal Options
  • The Pill – Daily tablets (combined or progestogen-only)
  • Vaginal Ring – Flexible ring inserted monthly
  • Injection – Hormone shot every 3 months
  • Implant (Implanon) – Small rod under your arm, lasts 3 years
Long-Acting Options
  • Hormonal IUD – Inserted device, lasts 5 years
    To read more about the Hormonal Mirena IUD
  • Copper IUD – Hormone-free device, lasts 10 years
Permanent Options
  • Sterilization – Tubal ligation (female) or vasectomy (male)
What to Consider
  • Effectiveness – No method is 100% effective, but some are more reliable than others
  • STI protection – Only condoms provide this
  • Lifestyle – Do you want daily, monthly, or long-term options?
  • Side effects – These vary by method and person
  • Your relationship – This can be an individual or shared decision
Our Services

We’re accredited to provide IUD and Implanon insertions. For IUDs, we’ll arrange two appointments – first to discuss options and arrange testing, then for insertion with our nursing team.

Ready to explore your options? Book a consultation to discuss what works best for your lifestyle and health needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you experience urinary leakage when you cough or sneeze?

What about when running, lifting or playing with your children?

Afraid of the trampoline?

Urinary incontinence affects between 24 – 45% of women at some stage in their lives, with two-thirds of these being leaking due to coughing/sneezing/exercising – Stress urinary incontinence.

You might hear that this is common, but this does not mean its normal and that you have to put up with it.

Why am I leaking?

There are many reasons that you might experience incontinence or leakage.

The main one you might find is after pregnancy and childbirth due to changes to the pelvic floor muscles.

You can also be at risk of incontinence if you;

  • Are overweight
  • Suffer from chronic constipation
  • Suffer from chronic coughing
  • Frequently lift heavy objects, including children and weights at the gym
  • Are post-menopausal
  • Have had pelvic or abdominal surgery

The pelvic floor has three main jobs; to support your pelvic organs, to provide continence (bowel and bladder), and sexual function.

After pregnancy, the pelvic floor muscles have often stretched and weakened. This often results in issues with continence. Sometimes this doesn’t last long, and sometimes it can really reduce your quality of life and stop you exercising or doing things you usually enjoy to keep healthy

How can I improve my symptoms?

Mild symptoms unfortunately tend to worsen over time, so seek help as soon as possible.

Know that it’s never too late, and you are never too old to improve.

There are many things that you can do to improve your symptoms.

  • Prevent constipation and straining
    • Eat plenty of fibre and ensure a good daily fluid intake
    • Consider using a stool to raise your knees so they are slightly above your hips
  • Limit alcohol and caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea which can stimulate the bladder and bowel
  • Keep active
  • See your GP

You may be eligible for a GP management plan which can help subside sessions with a pelvic floor physiotherapist.
You may need more than these management approaches.

Checking your breasts regularly is the best way to learn what your breasts look and feel like, so you can learn what is normal for you. By checking your breasts often, you will be able to notice changes as soon as they happen.

Finding breast cancer early provides the best chance of surviving the disease. It gives you the most options for treatment. If you notice any changes in your breasts, see your doctor as soon as possible.

It’s important to remember that not all lumps are dangerous, and 9 out of 10 changes are not related to breast cancer. But it is important to see your doctor to be sure.

Based on current research, you don’t need to use a special technique to check your breasts. Everyday activities like getting dressed or having a shower are an opportunity to get to know the normal look and feel of your breasts and the area around them.
Take time regularly to look at and feel your breasts, nipples, armpits, the area under your breasts, and the area above your breasts up to your collarbone. You should try to notice the colour, texture and shape of your breasts, and especially pay attention to any new lumpiness.

What should I look out for?

You should look out for any changes in your nipples, breasts or the areas around them. These could be:

  • new lumps or thickening of your breasts or the area under your arm, especially any changes noticed only on one side
  • a change in the size or shape of your breasts
  • a change in the colour of your breasts such as redness or a rash
  • dimpling of the skin on your breasts or the area around them — like the texture of the skin of an orange
  • crusting, redness or an ulcer on the nipple or the area around it
  • inversion of your nipple so it points inward rather than outward
  • a nipple discharge that comes out without your squeezing
  • a pain that doesn’t go away

If you notice any changes in your breasts or the areas around them, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.

Everyone’s breasts change as they get older, especially during puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause, so sometimes it can be hard to know if a change is normal or if it is a sign of cancer. By discussing all changes with your doctor, you can be sure you are keeping yourself as safe as possible from breast cancer.

Female pattern hair loss is a term used to describe hair loss and thinning in females. It is also known as androgenetic alpopecia. It is the most common cause of hair loss in females.

Female pattern hair loss can develop at any age. It is more common after menopause. Almost half of all females show signs of hair loss by the age of 50.

What are the symptoms of female pattern hair loss?

The hair loss and thinning follow a different pattern to male pattern hair loss. Your hair usually thins across your scalp, starting at the parting. You might notice more hairs falling out. The skin of your scalp will look normal.

It usually progresses over decades and can come in bursts.

A receding hairline or a bald patch on the top of your head is rare in females. This can happen if you have high levels of androgens (male hormones) in your body.

Loss of libido (low libido or low sex drive) is a reduced desire to have sex. It can also mean a low sex drive that is persistent and won’t go away outside of the normal changes of your interest in sex.

What are the symptoms of low libido?

Symptoms of low sex drive or loss of libido might be:

  • having no interest in any type of sex including masturbation
  • rarely or never having sexual fantasies or thinking of sex
  • being unhappy with your low desire for sexual activity or thoughts of sex

It’s not unusual for a woman to lose interest in sex at some stage, or experience difficulty climaxing to orgasm. Your interest in sex can be affected by many life changes. It doesn’t mean anything is wrong. A range of physical and psychological factors can play a part in your feelings towards sexual intercourse.