Women’s Health Clinic

Your vaginal tissue naturally loses collagen and elastin as you age, leading to vaginal dryness, sexual discomfort, urinary incontinence, and more. There are vaginal rejuvenation options to make you good about yourself. Just like your skin, your vaginal tissue loses its natural collagen and elasticity as you age. Other factors such as menopause and childbirth can also impact the way your vagina looks and feels. Some of the following changes may even affect your quality of life:

• Vaginal dryness
• Urinary incontinence
• Decreased sexual sensation
• Loss of structure of the labia
• Vaginal laxity
• Non-surgical vaginal rejuvenation uses laser or radiofrequency to stimulate collagen production in your vaginal tissue, which can tighten your vagina and lead to more fulfilling sexual intimacy.

Suffering menstrual irregularities? Your menstrual cycle can tell you a lot about what’s going on inside your body. While most women experience a cycle that ranges anywhere from 21 to 35 days each month, any noticeable change in your monthly period is considered a menstrual irregularity. That’s why it’s important to track the start and end dates of your menstrual cycle each month. Some of the most common irregular menstrual cycle signs include:

• • • A missed period
    • A heavy flow
    • A very light flow
    • Spotting between periods
    • Nausea or vomiting
    • Painful periods

Causes of menstrual irregularities?

Most birth control pills contain the hormones estrogen and progestin, which can cause irregular periods.If you’ve just started a new birth control, it may take up to three months for your body to get used to the hormone changes.Likewise, when going off of birth control you can experience menstrual irregularities for up to six months.

• • The fact is if you are NOT using any form of contraception – there is a likelihood you can get pregnant and if that isn’t in your plans at the moment –we can help you with a choice of contraception options.
    • Here are some key facts about Contraception There are many types of contraception available –you need to find what works for you. Remember NO METHOD is 100% effective.

• • • • • • • Diaphragms: A diaphragm acts as a barrier method of contraception. It fits inside a woman’s vagina and covers the cervix (entrance to the womb) to stop sperm from meeting and fertilising an egg.
            • Condom (Female): The female condom is a barrier method of contraception that fits all women and suits all ages. It offers women and men an alternative to the male condom. Studies have shown that, if used the right way, the female condom is effective in preventing an unintended pregnancy and giving protection from sexually transmissible infections (STIs).
            • Combined pill: The combined pill is often referred to as ‘the Pill’. It is made from two synthetic hormones, oestrogen and progestogen, which are similar to naturally occurring oestrogen and progesterone made by the ovaries. Mini Pill The mini pill is made from only one hormone called progestogen. Each pack has 28 mini pills (there are no sugar pills).
            • Morning After Pill (Emergency Contraceptive Pill): If you had sex without contraception, or had problems with your regular method (missed pills, broken condom), emergency contraception can help prevent unplanned pregnancy.
            • Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC): Intrauterine Device (IUD) ContraceptionThe copper IUD and the hormonal IUD (MirenaTM) is a small contraceptive device that is put into the uterus (womb) to prevent pregnancy.
            • Other Contraceptive methods you might consider;
            • Postnatal Contraception: After having a baby, using an effective method of contraception such as a contraceptive implant or intrauterine device (IUD) will help in preventing an unplanned pregnancy.

1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Early detection is known to save lives. Approximately 15,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013; over 800 of these women were under 40 years old.
The National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre recommend women care for their breasts.
Becoming breast aware – being ‘breast aware’ means becoming familiar with the normal look and feel of your breasts and reporting any unusual breast changes to your doctor as soon as possible. Early detection can boost your chances of surviving breast cancer. Many women have no signs or symptoms. However, some women do have symptoms and there are things you can look out for.
Having regular mammograms – getting older is the biggest risk for developing breast cancer. Most women with breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease.
If you are aged 50–69 years, the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre recommend that you have a screening mammogram every two years through BreastScreen Australia. This is a free service.
Women 40-49 years or 70 years and over are also eligible for the free screening. It is not recommended for women under 40 years.

The National Cervical Screening Program has recently changed and now recommends that those between the ages of 25-74 years, who have ever been sexually active, have a five-yearly test for HPV.

Endometriosis is a common and often painful condition that affects around 10% of women. It can happen any time from when periods start right up to the time of menopause (when periods stop). Endometriosis happens when the tissue lining the uterus (the endometrium) is found outside the uterus, where it implants and starts to grow and function.
Symptoms can include:
• Period pain;
• Abdominal, back and/ or pelvic pain;
• Heavy or irregular bleeding;
• Bowel or bladder symptoms;
• Infertility;
• Premenstrual symptoms;
• Tiredness;
• Mood changes, and;
• Bloating.

Fibroids are growths that form inside the uterus (womb). Around four in 10 women over the age of 40 years will have fibroids. It is not known why fibroids develop, but it is thought that the sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, play key roles.
Often, fibroids do not cause any problems, but are occasionally associated with infertility, miscarriage and premature labour. Other problems can include heavy, long and painful periods. Fibroids rarely become cancerous.

In Australia, the average age of menopause (the last menstrual period) is 52. It can happen in women aged 40-60 years and in very few cases, it can happen earlier.
During this time, the ovaries start to make less oestrogen (a female sex hormone) and periods usually become erratic (less regular) before stopping. Women often have other symptoms such as hot flushes, sore joints, low libido and vaginal dryness.
During this time it is important to take care of your general health by maintaining a healthy diet and high calcium intake (to help prevent loss of bone density), exercising, and having regular health checks, including mammograms and Pap tests.
During menopause women should also consider contraception, because you’re not considered infertile until:
• A year after your last period, if you’re aged over 50 when you have your last period, and;
• Two years after your last period, if you’re aged under 50 when you have your last period.

For women who are still in their Menstrual years there are some conditions to look out for – if in doubt please call us to discuss your concern.

The absence of menstrual periods is referred to as amenorrhoea.
If a young woman hasn’t shown any signs of puberty (such as starting to grow breasts and dark pubic hair) by the age of 14 or hasn’t started having periods by 16, she should see a doctor. For most, it’s just late puberty, but it’s important to be sure.
Women who have regular monthly periods that stop for more than three months and women who have periods that come at odd times should see a doctor.
The most common cause of amenorrhoea is when the body’s hormones are disrupted, which can happen because of emotional stress, losing or gaining a lot of weight, or exercising too much (referred to as athletic amenorrhoea).
Treatment for amenorrhoea depends on the cause and may include exercising less or, in some cases (if overweight), recommending weight loss. Starting hormone therapy (HT) may also be an option.

Painful periods is referred to as dysmenorrhoea. The cause of the pain can be because the womb (uterus) is contracting harder than usual to dislodge the lining, or the pain may be a result of certain reproductive disorders such as endometriosis.
Many women have severe period pain. You should see a doctor if it is not helped by medication from the chemist, it is getting worse, painful when having sex or are experiencing abnormal bleeding (in between periods or during/after sex) or you want to get pregnant and are experiencing difficulties.
Most of the time, there isn’t a serious cause for period pain. Many women find taking the contraceptive pill find it beneficial for period pain.

It’s normal for women, especially those in their 30s and 40s, to at least sometimes experience symptoms such as irritability or bloating in the days leading up to their period. This is often called premenstrual tension (PMT).
For some women, these and other symptoms are more of a problem, lasting longer and stopping them from doing activities they would normally do. This is usually called premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Around 200 different symptoms associated with PMS and/or PMT have been described.
The symptoms can range from:
• Irritability, mood swings, crying, difficulty concentrating and feelings of hopelessness;
• Changes in sleep;
• Tiredness;
• Bloating;
• Changes in appetite, overeating or specific food cravings;
• Weight gain;
• Skin changes;
• Breast tenderness or pain, and;
• Headaches.
PMS is a frustrating problem that affects many women to some extent and a small number severely. Although there isn’t an easy solution, it’s important to try and improve your general health and seek help from a doctor, especially if your condition doesn’t improve.

If this normal discharge becomes smelly, yellowish or greyish in colour or thick, white and lumpy in appearance, you may have an infection. Itching, abnormal bleeding, sores or pain in the genital area can also be a sign of infection.

Thrush
• Discomfort and itching around the vagina;
• A burning sensation and pain when passing urine and during sex;
• Thick, white, lumpy discharge;
• Redness and swelling of the vagina, and;
• Small breaks in the skin around the vagina.

Bacterial Vaginosis
• An unpleasant vaginal odour;
• An abnormal, thin greyish discharge, and;
• Itching around the vagina;.

Trichomoniasis
• Irritating discharge;
• Redness and swelling of the vagina, and;
• A yellowish-green, frothy discharge.

Chlamydia, mycoplasma and gonorrhoea
Discharge may increase, change colour or become blood stained. Most women with these infections don’t notice a change in discharge or any other symptoms. There may be associated pelvic pain, pain with sex, bleeding in between periods or bleeding after sex.

Many women and men will experience low libido at some time in their lives. This may be over a long period of time or short-term such as after the birth of a baby, during a stressful life period or when a relationship is rocky.
Low libido can become an issue in relationships when one partner wants sex more often than the other. This is called ‘desire discrepancy’ and can cause conflict and unhappiness.