Category Archives: Women’s Health

Mirena

Mirena – beyond an ordinary contraceptive

Mirena is a small device designed to prevent pregnancy and treat conditions such as abnormal bleeding and painful periods.

This small, T-shaped device works by being placed into the uterus and releases a hormone called progesterone. This is not a surgical procedure that only takes a few minutes and should only be placed by a professional healthcare provider.

If when you wish to fall pregnant, you can have the Mirena removed at any time and safely become pregnant straight away.

What are the advantages for choosing Mirena?

It’s effective! – Mirena is over 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. This is one of the highest rates for birth control.

Reversible – If you decide at any time to try and become pregnant, it can be removed at any time and safely become pregnant straight away.

FDA Approved – Mirena is approved by the highest authority (FDA) in treating heavy periods.

Low maintenance –Mirena lasts up to 5 years and you can remove it whenever you want. You do not need to remember a daily pill or get a new script. Once you have the Mirena placed, you should see your healthcare professional after 4 weeks to check it is in the right place.

How is it placed in the uterus? Will it hurt?

How it is placed:

  • Antiseptic solution is applied to the area to ensure cleanliness
  • A thin plastic tube carrying the Mirena is inserted into the vagina and into the uterus
  • The Mirena is left in place and plastic tube removed
  • Threads attached will be trimmed to the correct length

Any bleeding or discomfort felt should pass after 30 minutes after the procedure. If you are experiencing bleeding or discomfort after 30 minutes, the Mirena may need to be removed and placed again.

When should I not use Mirena?

You should not use Mirena if you:

  • Are pregnant or are trying to become pregnant
  • Have unexplained bleeding from the vagina
  • May have cancer or cervix or uterus
  • Have a pelvic infection or have experienced a pelvic infection in the past 3 months post pregnancy
  • Have liver disease
  • Have a liver tumour
  • Have a cancer sensitive to progestin such as breast cancer
  • Immune system issues

Is Mirena used as protection against STDs?

Having Mirena does not protect against STD or HIV. Use a condom if you or your partner are at risk of STD. You should speak with your healthcare provider about what birth control option would best suit you.

How does Mirena prevent pregnancy?

There is not just one way that Mirena works to prevent pregnancy. There are a few factors combined that contribute to the way Mirena prevents pregnancy.

  • Inhibiting sperm being able to travel to eggs
  • Making the lining of the uterus thinner
  • Cervical mucus becomes thicker inhibiting sperm to enter uterus

Putting Mirena myths to rest!

  • Mirena does not cause infertility
  • Mirena does not have to be a long-term commitment
  • Mirena does not work by miscarriage and abortions
  • Your partner will not feel the Marina during intercourse

Side effects of Mirena.

Side effects are uncommon but are a possibility. Some side effects are:

Menstrual cycle changes – If you do not have a period for 6 or more weeks you should see your healthcare provider.

Mirena expulsion – This means that Mirena has come out by itself and will no longer be effective as birth control.

Cysts on ovaries – Approximately 12 in 100 women experience cyst development on their ovaries after Mirena placement. They can cause pain but often disappear on their own after 4-6 weeks.

How can we help?

At Wellcare Medical Centre Kingston we specialize in woman health.

Our experienced team of Gynaecology trained female GP, Registered Nurse, Dietitian and exercise physiologist will help you to receive the best treatment options.

Our Gynaecology  clinic in Logan will help you about any queries you have about your health and wellbeing.

We are conveniently located in main road at 497 Kingston Road Kingston 4114

Please contact us 07 31334483   for a consult.

Please head to our website for more information about our services:

Obstetric & Gynecology Services

Premenstrual-Syndrome

PMS – Premenstrual Syndrome

PMS refers to a combination of both physical and emotions symptoms that approximately 90% women have leading up to their periods. Some of these symptoms include tender breasts, moodiness, headaches, depression, fatigue and food cravings.

These symptoms vary between women from mild discomfort to so severe that they are unable to work or go to school. If you experience PMS, talk to your health care provider to learn ways you can relieve and manage your symptoms.

What causes PMS?

It is unknown what the exact cause is for PMS but there are many factors that could contribute to the condition. Increased sensitivity to reproductive hormones especially in second half of menstrual cycle when level of hormones are high and fluctuating. This change in hormone levels as well as stress, physical health, genetic makeup and other factors may all influence the severity of PMS.

Symptoms of PMS

It is more common that women feel the physical symptoms of PSM, however, majority of women will experience some degree of physiological or behavioural PMS symptoms in their life.

Physical:

  • Breath tenderness
  • Headaches
  • Muscle pain, joint pain
  • Fluid retention
  • Bloating                                                                                                 
  • Pimples/ Changes in skin
  • Weight gain

Psychological:

  • Anxiety
  • Lack of motivation and energy
  • Feeling sad
  • Irritable, anger
  • Feeling nervous
  • Not wanting to socialize
  • Eating more, cravings for specific foods

Does PMS change as I get older?

PMS gets worse in late 30’s and 40’s, especially as you approach menopause.

Perimenopause is the transitional time going into menopause, during this time hormone levels change unpredictably which can have effect on mood swings. Once menopause is over, you no longer have periods or PMS.

PMS can also change during your life by environmental and lifestyle factors. PMS may be more severe for women who suffer depression, experience high levels of stress, smoke and have unhealthy habits.

Diagnosing PMS

To effectively diagnose PMS, symptoms should be recorded in a diary over two consecutive months. This will allow your healthcare professional to look for patterns in symptoms and better know how to treat your PMS. This will also allow your healthcare professional to see if symptoms may be related to a different health issue being mistaken as PMS or making PMS worse.

What treatments are there for PMS?

It’s wise to consult a female doctor in Logan to assess you thoroughly and offer a wide range of treatments available.

to assess you thoroughly and offer a wide range of treatments available.

It’s important to check for other common conditions such as Thyroid issues or Iron deficiency and other problems associated with internal glands.

Over the counter medications can be used to reduce the pain of PMS with muscle aches, headaches, cramps and breast tenderness.

Over the counter medications are such as:

  • Aspirin
  • Ibuprofen
  • Naproxen

If over the counter medications are not effective in relieving your symptoms there are medications prescribed by a Doctor that may work for you. These are such as:

  • Antidepressants- SSRI
  • Hormonal contraceptives
  • Anti-anxiety medicine
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
  • Diuretics

Making lifestyle changes is another way to reduce the symptoms of PMS. These are:

  • Sleeping enough
  • Stop smoking
  • Eat a healthy, balanced diet
  • Exercise regularly

The impact of PMS

PMS can be very sever and have huge impact on your life.

Sever emotional and psychological symptoms can cause conflict within the family and affect your work.

Physical symptoms of PMS can be very sever and can be a reason for losing working days.

It can make pre-existing depression worse.

Its way beyond a natural process or fact of life and seeking advice from a Gynaecology trained female doctor is essential to address the issue as soon as possible to bring the quality of life back to the track.

How can we help?

Our female doctors in Kingston specialise in women’s health.

Our experienced team of Gynaecology trained female GP, Registered Nurse, Dietitian and exercise physiologist will help you to receive the best treatment options.

Our women’s health clinic in Logan will help you about any queries you have about your health and wellbeing. Bulk-billing option is available in our clinic.

We are conveniently located in main road at 497 Kingston Road Kingston 4114

Please contact us 07 31334483   for a consult.

Please head to our website for more information about our services: https://www.wellcaremedicalcentre.com.au/obstetric-gynecology-services/

Wellcare Medical Centre

Why Cervical Cancer Is More Common Than Ever

Cervical cancer is a surprisingly common disease; in fact, it’s estimated that almost 1,000 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer over the next year, with 250 of those cases resulting in death. While survival rates are still encouragingly high – 72% of women with cervical cancer will survive for at least five years after diagnosis – it’s still important for women to be aware of how common cervical cancer is, and how it can be prevented.

Cervical cancer occurs when otherwise normal cells within the cervix start developing pre-cancerous characteristics. If not caught in time, these malfunctioning cells turn into cervical cancer. Some women can develop pre-cancerous cells without getting cervical cancer; the medical community is still trying to determine why it happens to some women and not all.

While it’s thought that cervical cancer is linked to genetics, there are other risk factors that increase your odds of getting cervical cancer, including HPV, chlamydia, smoking, certain prescription medications, being overweight, and more. Signs and symptoms of cervical cancer include the following:

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Unusual discharge from the vagina
• Pain during sex

If you’ve experienced any of the above symptoms or you have a family history of cervical cancer, it’s important to book a consultation at Wellcare Medical Centre in Kingston right away.

At Wellcare Medical Centre, we specialize in cervical cancer detection via Pap smears, which is the best technique for identifying and diagnosing cervical cancer. We use Pap smears to catch cervical cancer at its earliest stages, making treatment much more likely to be successful. We have an expert female doctor on staff who specializes in cervical cancer detection with Pap smears.

Contact Wellcare Medical Centre Today

Stay on top of your health with regular Pap smears. Contact Wellcare Medical Centre in Kingston today to schedule your cervical cancer and Pap smear consultation.Call Us Today 07 3133 4483 today!