Oxford Clinic Women’s Health FAQ

• Am I able to attend my gynaecological appointment when I have a period?

  It is a good idea to check with one of the nursing staff, as whether you attend or not will very much depend upon the reason for having your appointment in the first place. A smear cannot be taken when you have a period but a pelvic examination can be performed for other reasons should it be necessary or urgent. Sometimes it is a good idea to come along and talk about whatever problem it is that you wish to discuss even if you do have a period but return once the period has finished for an examination should an examination be necessary. The best course of action is to ask one of the nursing staff if you have any doubts at all.
  

• What is the cost of antenatal care?

  A copy of our antenatal billing structure is available by calling Oxford Clinic Women’s Health on ph 3790 555. Various options are available that you can discuss with our nursing staff.
  

• Do you have a list of midwives?

  Yes, but it is not a comprehensive list of all midwives, simply a list of midwives with whom the obstetricians and gynaecologists at Oxford Clinic Women’s Health have worked with the most over recent years and are therefore happy to recommend.
  

• How often do I need a smear?

  A woman normally has her first smear at the age of 20. Performing a smear earlier than this unfortunately can produce confusing results so 20 is the age that you are recommended to have your first smear. Your second smear should be a year later at the age of 21 and, providing both of those smears prove to be normal, then every three years thereafter up until the age of 70 is the recommended frequency.
  If you have had a previous abnormal smear or treatment to your cervix because of an abnormal smear then you will be given different advice from your gynaecologist and you will need more frequent smears. If you are in doubt call and ask one of the nursing staff with regard to your particular gynaecological and smear history.
  

• How do I know if I am going through the menopause?

  The average age of the menopause is 51. Most women experience the menopause within two or three years either side of this age and the symptoms of the menopause, night sweats, hot flushes, nervousness, irritability, sleep disturbance, loss of libido, loss of self confidence etc can start to become a problem up to four or five years before the menopause.
  The term menopause actually means ‘the last period’ although many women use it to denote the time of life around the menopause more correctly termed the perimenopause or climacteric. If you are around the right age for the menopause and start experiencing some of the above symptoms then it is likely that you are approaching the menopause. An early menopause in women under the age of 45 is a little bit more difficult to be certain about and you are advised to discuss any concerns with your general practitioner in the first instance.
  

• How long should it take to get pregnant?

  Women in their early twenties are generally more fertile than women in their late thirties. 70% of women in their early twenties will conceive within six months of undertaking contraception-free intercourse. For women in their late thirties the figure is more like 40%.
  Officially sub-fertility or infertility is not diagnosed until a couple have been trying to conceive for twelve months or one year. Here at the Oxford Clinic, however, we would advise that you seek medical help if you have been trying to conceive for six months without success and are over the age of 35; if under 35 then it is reasonable to leave matters for twelve months. The above advice relates to women that are experiencing regular 28-day menstrual cycles. If your cycle frequency is less than once a month then we would again advise that you seek medical help no matter what your age if you have failed to conceive within six months.
  If either you or your partner have any particular concerns about your general health then a preconception consultation with your general practitioner or specialist would be advisable. Also remember to commence Folic Acid one month prior to trying to conceive (obtainable over the counter from your local pharmacy), to eat a healthy diet and to drink only small amounts of alcohol and of course stop smoking.
  

• Can endometriosis be removed and cured?

  Yes, endometriosis can be removed and cured. Some women however will require repeat surgery for endometriosis, particularly younger women as sometimes not all the endometriosis present is visible at a first surgery but may continue to develop as you get older, hence the need for repeat surgery. Overall it is estimated about 20% of women will require repeat surgery for endometriosis if it is removed or excised, whereas 80% require only one operation.
  

• I am leaking urine, what types of help are available?

  All women should perform pelvic floor exercises regularly whether they are currently leaking or not. If you are uncertain as to how to perform such exercises you can contact our physiotherapist at the Oxford Clinic and she can either provide you with an instruction sheet or offer you an appointment if you wish to have more detailed instruction.
  Pelvic floor exercises alone may be all that is required for a woman to prevent leakage. If past the menopause then it is advised that vaginal oestrogen cream should also be used twice weekly and this can have quite a dramatic effect in improving leakage. It can also improve lubrication and arousal during intercourse.
  If the above conservative measures are not helpful then there are a range of surgeries that are very successful but you would need to seek a consultation with one of the gynaecologists to discuss what may or may not be suitable for you.
  

• How do I find out about Mirena?

  Your general practitioner may be your first port of call as they will certainly have handouts that they can give you and many general practitioners can also fit a Mirena for you, should you decide you would like to have one. You can visit the Mirena website. You can also direct questions to the Oxford Clinic Women’s Health nursing staff and if your enquiry is to see if a Mirena will help a particular gynaecological condition that you may have then you may wish to arrange an appointment to see one of the gynaecologists here at Women’s Health.
  

• Do I need to worry about fibroids?

  Firstly fibroids are very common but most are small. By the time a woman reaches the age of 35 she has a 30% chance of having one or more fibroids but most of these are less than 2cm in size and may never cause any problems at all and in fact many are only detected when a pelvic ultrasound scan is performed for some other reason and fibroids are an incidental finding. If fibroids become quite large however or if they lie just under the surface of the lining of the uterus then they may be associated with painful cramps or heavy bleeding or both. If fibroids become extremely large then they can exceed the size of a grapefruit and cause pressure symptoms on other organs such as the bladder or rectum.

 

Relevant Links

Frequently Asked Questions – Appointments

Frequently Asked Questions – Consultations