Driving better sexual and reproductive health outcomes for women through primary care

We innovate strategies to ensure the Australian primary care workforce adequately addresses women's sexual and reproductive health needs, including trialling alternative service delivery methods to enhance accessibility, particularly in rural and regional areas.

Understanding the needs and preferences of women is important when co-designing interventions that can help women achieve their individual reproductive goals.

Health data sets are useful in gaining insights into the state of women's sexual and reproductive health in Australia and identifying gaps in health care provision.

A new study led by Monash University is shedding light on the importance of early access to contraception for mothers soon after birth. The research, published in the Medical Journal of Australia, found that family planning right after childbirth can help avoid unplanned pregnancies and ensure healthier outcomes for both mums and babies.

A study led by Monash University has highlighted a critical gap in postnatal care, focusing on the overlooked topic of contraception for new mothers. The research reveals that early access to contraceptive information and services after childbirth can support family planning, helping mothers better manage the spacing between pregnancies, which contributes to healthier outcomes for both mothers and babies.

Contraception for mothers of newborn babies can often be overlooked amidst the focus on the health of the newborn baby and the significant adjustments required following the birth of the child. A Monash University-led study has found that early access to contraception information and services postnatally can support family planning and encourage adequate spacing between pregnancies to ensure better health outcomes for both mothers and babies.

RANZCOG has published the first free clinical guideline on contraception for Australian and New Zealand clinicians, who previously relied on international and paywalled therapeutic guidelines. Professor Kirsten Black, chair of the RANZCOG sexual and reproductive health committee and of its guideline development group, and professor of sexual and reproductive health at the University of Sydney, said rates of accidental pregnancy in Australia left much room for improvement.

Obesity and overweight do not reduce combined hormonal contraceptive efficacy, but women should be advised that bariatric surgery might, new contraception guidelines say. RANZCOG released the C-Gyn 3 Contraception guidelines this week, with chapters on 10 contraceptives, including IUDs, progestogen-only pills or implants, depot, fertility awareness and barrier methods.

Some religious groups and conservative politicians in Australia have claimed babies are being “born alive” after abortions and left to die alone. But experts warn “born alive” campaigns are riddled with misinformation, use misleading statistics and could threaten women’s access to abortions.