The Victorian government is launching an inquiry into women’s pain and experiences within the healthcare system in a bid to drive solutions to the systemic issues facing women’s health.
A recent survey of Victorian women showed that close to half of women are affected by issues relating to their periods, pregnancy, birth and postnatal care, as well as conditions like endometriosis.
Four in 10 women said they lived with chronic pain, while one in three women said their health conditions affect their ability to work and keep a job.
The inquiry will hear from women across Victoria and will be led by a panel of experts and overseen by the state’s Women’s Health Advisory Council. Submissions are set to open on 30 January.
“This won’t be a mic drop moment for the majority of Victoria’s population, because every woman has either experienced it for herself or knows someone who has,” said Premier Jacinta Allan, who has been open about her own battle with endometriosis.
“But now we have the evidence to prove it. It’s time we stopped treating women’s health like some kind of niche issue. We deserve to have our pain believed and relieved.”
The survey also highlighted that about 30 per cent of women said they were affected by symptoms of perimenopause or menopause.
And while nearly 60 per cent of participants reported having experienced positive interactions in healthcare settings, one in three said they had dealt with insensitive and disrespectful practitioners who left them feeling dismissed or unheard. This kind of experience was more common for women suffering from pain, autoimmune conditions, infertility, and menopause, as well as for those who required pre and post-surgical care.
Women’s mental health is also suffering under the stress of dealing with pain or a chronic health conditions, with 20 per cent saying they were forced to forgo social interaction because of their health.
One woman who participated in the survey described how she was prescribed antidepressants when she had acute pelvic pain that was interfering with her ability to sleep and work. Later, she was diagnosed with advanced endometriosis.
Women in regional and rural communities told the survey that they commonly travel long distances to access the healthcare they need. Women also described difficulty accessing bulk-billed GP services and experiencing long wait lists for public health services.
“The survey results have highlighted that sadly, a systemic gender pain gap still exists,” said Victoria’s Minister for Health, Mary-Anne Thomas.
“It’s why we are transforming our health system – delivering new women’s health clinics, recruiting more women’s health specialists and establishing more dedicated sexual and reproductive health hubs across the state.”
The Victorian government is currently in the process of establishing 20 Women’s Health Clinics across the state, which will offer free and wide-ranging care, allowing women to see specialists including gynaecologists, urologists, specialist nursing and allied health professionals, in one clinic. Meanwhile, 9 new reproductive healthcare clinics are being established by the government that will offer free or low cost services.