Well Woman Clinic

Menstrual (period) problems include a variety of problems like heavy periods, painful periods, irregular bleeding or spotting between periods, irregular periods, absent periods to name a few. Women often feel embarrassed to discuss their period problems. Heavy periods over a period of time can lead to anaemia which in turn can cause fatigue, tiredness and affect your quality of life.

If you have any period problems do not hesitate to contact us. Your concerns will be listened to and addressed in an empathetic manner.

Symptoms of hot flushes, vaginal dryness, mood and sleep disturbances can cause significant distress to women who have achieved menopause and also to those nearing menopause. These can be alleviated to a great extent by the use of Hormone Replacement Therapy with beneficial effects on the health, well being and lifestyle of those affected.

There have been concerns regarding breast cancer with use of hormone replacement therapy following the publication of findings from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study in 2002. Several flaws have been identified in the study design and the findings of the study have been questioned. Following their recent conference, the British Menopause Society has published a press release. The message is that “short-term hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is acceptable and relatively safe for healthy, symptomatic, recently postmenopausal women”.

Cardiovascular disease is the principal cause of morbidity and mortality in postmenopausal women. There is evidence that oestrogen therapy may be cardio protective if started around the time of menopause and continued long term (often referred to as ‘window of opportunity’ concept) [updated International Menopause Society recommendations].

There are many causes of pain within the pelvis or abdomen and it can often be very difficult to understand what is at the root of the pain. Many women have concern that there is an underlying serious cause which may affect their fertility or may even signify something more serious, such as cancer. If severe it can affect quality of life and be disabling.

Pelvic pain can be caused by conditions related to the uterus, ovary, fallopian tube or surrounding organs like bowel, bladder, kidney, ureter etc.

A prolapse occurs when the supporting ligaments that holds the uterus and other pelvic organs in position is no longer strong enough to do this effectively. The uterus may descend or ‘drop down’ in varying positions, pressing on other pelvic organs such as the bladder or bowel and resulting in different types of prolapse. It may cause backache and difficulty in controlling the bladder and sometimes the bowel, or discomfort during sexual intercourse.

The sling (or ligaments), the walls of the vagina and the pelvic floor muscles have become weakened for various reasons, the most common being pregnancy and childbirth. Other causes may be a chronic cough (as with smokers or people with chest problems), straining when constipated, continuous heavy lifting, or following menopause when the decrease in production of female hormones affects the elasticity of the tissues.

Depending on the severity of the prolapse, it can be managed by surgical or non-surgical means.