Message from Assistant Minister Ged Kearney
The Hon Ged Kearney MP, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, supports the Commission’s work to improve care for women with heavy menstrual bleeding. She says healthcare practitioners can help patients understand their options – and potentially turn their lives around.
Introduction from our Clinical Director
ssociate Professor Liz Marles, GP and Clinical Director, introduces the Commission’s new women’s health resources: the Women’s Health Focus Report examining trends in hysterectomy and endometrial ablation rates, and the revised Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Clinical Care Standard.
A story of the personal impact
Hayley has experienced heavy menstrual bleeding from a young age. In this video, she explains the disruptive impact this condition had on all aspects of her life and her experience with different treatments. She shares her advice for other women who experience heavy menstrual bleeding.
Our webinar
- Heavy menstrual bleeding affects one in four Australian women of reproductive age and can have a debilitating impact on women, affecting their physical, social, emotional and economic wellbeing.
- The best treatment option will differ for each woman, who should be able to choose the most appropriate and the least invasive treatment for their personal situation.
- The Commission is calling for health services and clinicians to do more to ensure that women can access effective, less invasive treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding.
Expert advice
The new Women’s Health Focus Report examines two procedures commonly used for heavy menstrual bleeding – hysterectomy and the less invasive option of endometrial ablation. The report found a 20% decrease in the national hysterectomy rate over eight years and a 10% increase in the national rate for the less invasive option of endometrial ablation over nine years.
The reduction in hysterectomy rate is encouraging yet remains significantly higher than in similar countries like New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Variable rates around the country suggest that alternatives to hysterectomy for women are not being consistently used across Australia.
The updated Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Clinical Care Standard (2024) continues to support greater choice of treatment options. The Standard was first released in 2017 in response to concerning data about hysterectomy rates in Australia.
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/newsroom/womens-health-hub-heavy-menstrual-bleeding
Your Host
Associate Professor Liz Marles
Clinical Director, Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
and General Practitioner, Hornsby-Brooklyn GP Unit
At the Commission, Liz provides strategic leadership on work related to primary and community health care. She guided the development of the Low Back Pain Clinical Care Standard and chaired the Topic Working Group. She is also leading the development of the Stillbirth Clinical Care Standard and provides expert advice to the Commission’s work on aged care. As a GP, Liz has a special interest in chronic disease management, mental health and Aboriginal health, and a strong focus on holistic and preventative care.
Acknowledgement of Country
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care acknowledges the Traditional Owners, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation on whose land the Commission’s office is located, and the lands across Australia where those we partner with work. The Commission pays our deep respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and emerging.
Sea urchin design: Ms Tanya Taylor is a Worimi artist (mid-north coast of New South Wales) who is drawn to the underwater world through a deep connection with her saltwater heritage. Tanya’s design is inspired by the patterns found in the sea urchins, corals and sea creatures found in the ocean.
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