Women's Health

Fertility Services

Specialist fertility services are available both publicly and privately in Australia. Treatment options include ovulation induction, intra uterine insemination, in vitro fertilisation (IVF), donor options and surrogacy.

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

An Obstetrician or Gynaecologist is a physician specialist who provides medical and surgical care to women and has particular expertise in pregnancy, childbirth, and disorders of the reproductive system. This includes preventative care, prenatal care, detection of sexually transmitted diseases, Pap test screening, family planning, etc.

Gynaecology

Gynaecologists treat a wide range of conditions, including cancer and pre-cancerous diseases of the reproductive organs including ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, vagina and vulva; urinary incontinence; painful, heavy or absent menstrual periods; infertility; prolapse of pelvic organs; and infections of the vagina, cervix and uterus.

Breast Surgery

Breast Surgeons are General Surgeons who have sub-specialised in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of breast disease in women (generally), and men. Breast cancer detection and surgery is their major focus. Breast Surgeons usually work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Cosmetic Breast Surgery

Surgery that modifies, corrects or improves the appearance of the breasts. Including breast reduction, breast lift, and breast augmentation. In men, gynaecomastia correction is provided.

Oncoplastic Breast Surgery

Oncoplastic Breast Surgery is a combination of the best and latest techniques in plastic surgery and surgery for Breast Cancer. The aim is to provide the best cosmetic outcome.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a common condition in which small pieces of the uterus (womb) lining, known as the endometrium, are found outside the uterus. It is a long-term condition with no known cure, but symptoms can be managed and fertility improved with pain medication, hormone treatment or surgery, so that the condition does not interfere with daily life.

Bariatrics / Obesity Surgery

Bariatric surgery (obesity surgery or weight loss surgery) includes a variety of procedures performed on people who are obese (severely overweight). The main aim is to reduce the size of the stomach to help achieve long-term weight loss. Three key procedures are: reducing the size of the stomach with an implanted band (gastric banding); removing part of the stomach (sleeve gastrectomy or biliopancreatic diversion); or by redirecting the small intestines to a small stomach pouch (gastric bypass).

Continence Management

Continence management means managing any loss of bladder or bowel control (incontinence). Once the condition is assessed, a treatment plan is created. Treatment options range from symptom management, behaviour management, and medications to surgery. The least invasive treatment is started first.

Fibroids

Fibroids are common, benign (non-cancerous) tumours of smooth muscle usually occurring in the uterus (womb). Fibroids do not produce symptoms in all women, but may lead to prolonged or heavy menstrual bleeding, pressure or pain in the pelvis, and rarely to infertility. In addition to hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus), less invasive surgical procedures are used to remove uterine fibroids.

Gynaecological Laparoscopic Surgery

Enables the surgeon to: look for the cause of any symptoms; remove scar tissue or other abnormal tissue; repair or remove part or all of the ovaries or fallopian tubes; remove an abnormal pelvic mass or ovarian cyst; look for the spread of cancer and perform a biopsy; remove lymph nodes or pelvic organs; evaluate and treat infertility; remove the uterus (hysterectomy); remove uterine fibroids (myomectomy); carry out sterilisation (tubal ligation); treat sudden, severe pelvic pain; treat a tubal pregnancy; and remove uterine tissue found outside the uterus in the abdomen (endometriosis).

Gynaecological Oncology

Gynaecological oncology is concerned with diagnosis and treatment of cancers of the female reproductive tract, including the cervix, endometrium, fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus, vagina and vulva. Gynaecological oncology services usually include colposcopy; surgical treatment and biopsy of gynaecological cancers; and ongoing management and follow-up care.

Hysteroscopic surgery

Hysteroscopy may be performed to diagnose or treat abnormalities of the uterus or cervix. It is used to evaluate a range of problems, including: abnormal vaginal bleeding; retained placenta after a birth; scarring, or adhesions, from previous uterine surgery or instrumentation; and polyps or fibroid tumours inside the cervical canal or the uterus.

Menopause Management

The symptoms of menopause are caused by changes in levels of oestrogen and progesterone. Specific symptoms and severity varies from woman to woman. Common symptoms include: heart pounding or racing; hot flashes; night sweats; skin flushing; and sleeping problems. There may be a variety of additional symptoms, including: headaches; joint aches and pains; mood swings, irritability and depression; vaginal dryness and painful sex; and decreased interest in sex.

Urogynaecology

Urogynaecology involves treatment of women with pelvic floor disorders such as urinary or faecal incontinence (leakage of urine or faeces) and prolapse (bulging, sagging or falling) of the vagina, bladder and/or the uterus (womb). Urinary incontinence is a very common condition affecting at least 10–20 per cent of women under age 65 and over half of women over the age of 65.

Varicose Veins

Treatment is not always necessary for varicose veins, although severe cases, especially those involving ulcers, require treatment. Often, the varicose veins are removed to let blood flow through the remaining healthy veins. This can be done by surgery (vein stripping) or by a non-invasive procedure called sclerotherapy.

Vulvar Diseases

There is a wide range of vulvar (or vulval) conditions and diseases including: fungal, bacterial or viral infections (e.g. yeast infection, sexually transmitted infections); skin conditions (e.g. contact dermatitis); epithelial disorders (relating to the epithelium, the outside layer of cells that covers the skin and mucous membranes, e.g. lichen sclerosus); raised lesions or masses (e.g. cysts or abscesses); potentially malignant or malignant (cancerous) conditions (e.g. vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma); and injuries to the vulva.

Other Medical Specialist Services