Women’s health encompasses the physical, emotional, and social wellbeing of women across all stages of life — from adolescence and reproductive health through to menopause and beyond. It covers a wide range of services including preventive care, maternal health, chronic disease management, mental health, and access to appropriate screening and treatment. In Australia and around the world, women’s health remains a priority for clinicians, policymakers, and health innovators alike.
Women experience unique health needs driven by biological, social, and cultural factors. Conditions such as reproductive health issues, osteoporosis, autoimmune diseases, and mental health concerns can affect women differently compared to men. Prioritising women’s health ensures equitable access to care, improved health outcomes, and quality of life for individuals and communities — making it essential for health systems, practitioners, and advocates.
Women’s health spans preventive care such as breast and cervical screening, reproductive and sexual health services, maternity and postnatal care, menopause support, and chronic condition management. Mental health, cardiovascular health, bone health, and access to culturally safe care are also critical components. Tailored healthcare models help ensure that women receive the right care at the right time throughout their lives.
Australia’s healthcare system provides a range of women’s health services through Medicare, private care, and community health programs. National strategies and policy efforts focus on improving maternal health, reducing barriers to preventive screening, supporting mental health services, and addressing health disparities for Indigenous and marginalised women. Ongoing research and innovation continue to shape care delivery and outcomes.
Women’s health is a dynamic and evolving field, with new research, policy shifts, and care models emerging regularly. Staying up to date helps clinicians, health leaders, advocates, and women themselves make informed decisions about care, prevention, and wellbeing. This page curates news and insights relevant to women’s health in Australia and beyond.
AstraZeneca will discontinue the 3.6 mg monthly Zoladex implant in Australia, removing it from the PBS and prohibiting private prescriptions from 1 November. Services Australia records show the 3.6 mg...
AstraZeneca will discontinue the 3.6 mg monthly Zoladex implant in Australia on 1 November 2026. The product has already been dispensed 29,680 times in 2026 and will be removed from the PBS and no lon...
Hyperemesis gravidarum is laid bare through a NSW pregnancy story in which a person moves from hopeful anticipation to a severe health crisis. After a positive test she lands in urgent care with a dia...
Metluma released the 2026 Australian Menopause Experience Report, drawing on insights from 1,468 women using the UMA40 assessment tool. The study shows 43 percent of participants triggered at least on...
Metluma released its 2026 Australian Menopause Experience Report, drawing on 1,468 women who completed UMA40 assessments. The findings show that almost half of women seeking help for menopause symptom...
From 1 June, routine antenatal blood tests in South Australia will include omega-3 fatty acid testing. The program is led by the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute in partnership w...
The NSW Legislative Council inquiry into fertility support and assisted reproductive treatment heard personal testimonies about miscarriage and stillbirth, highlighting serious gaps in care. Four wome...
PCOS has been renamed PMOS, short for polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, after 14 years of campaigning. The change was announced in Prague and published in The Lancet, signalling a global shift...
New South Wales will enable pharmacists to initiate prescriptions for the contraceptive pill from 1 June. The policy is backed by the Minns Labor Government and around 60 NSW pharmacists are expected...
A landmark study led by the University of Queensland analysed data from more than two million women and girls aged 10–59 across 90 countries to measure major depressive disorder in the peripartum peri...
Peri, a Dublin based start up, has released a wearable built specifically for perimenopause. The device sits under the chest and is designed for continuous wear through exercise, sleep and showering....
Researchers from Monash University, the University of Melbourne and University College London have formalised a clinical definition for menopause brain fog, arguing that recognising this symptom will...
Following serious allegations about a Victorian gynaecologist, a new support package widens the role of general practitioners in care navigation. The Federal Government announced a 7.45 million packag...
Australia's Commonwealth government has announced a $7.45 million funding package for Victoria to strengthen pelvic pain care in general practice. Part of the money will back Primary Health Networks t...
A new international review of preconception and antenatal care shows men’s health remains a secondary consideration. The RACGP expert Dr Ka-Kiu Cheung says GPs can foster joint responsibility for preg...
Pharmacy access expands, consultation declines. Australia is weighing reforms to scope of practice rules and pharmacy prescribing to address primary care workforce gaps. Two decades after emergency co...
The 2024 RACGP Red Book, the first update in eight years, has been identified as missing four preconception care elements by researchers from the University of Queensland. The gaps include male precon...
A 2020–2021 Australian study of 3,682 births finds continuity of midwifery care lowers birth trauma versus standard care. Women who had ongoing care from a small team of midwives, in public or private...
From July, adults in Victoria can obtain the oral contraceptive pill from about 850 participating pharmacies without a GP script. Pharmacist consultations will be free, and patients still cover the me...
