Women’s Health Hub – Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
The Commission is working with the health sector across Australia to improve care for women with heavy menstrual bleeding, so they can access the range of treatment options and make informed choices.
Read our new Women’s Health Focus Report and updated Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Clinical Care Standard (2024), released on 13 June 2024.
Introduction
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.
What's new?
The Commission has published:
- A revised Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Clinical Care Standard (2024) with guidance on optimal patient care
- Trend data on hysterectomy and endometrial ablation from the Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation series (the Atlas) in a new interactive Women’s Health Focus Report.
Women's health data report and the Standard
- Women's Health Focus Report - national trend data
This interactive report examines hysterectomy and endometrial ablation hospitalisations for non-cancer gynaecological conditions across Australia in women aged 15 years and over.
- Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Clinical Care Standard (2024)
The revised clinical care standard outlines the best practice care for heavy menstrual bleeding and how healthcare practitioners can support women living with this condition.
Highlights Report
Read our six-page overview on the Commission's work to improve care for women living with heavy menstrual bleeding, including the Women's Health Focus Report and Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Clinical Care Standard. It also outlines actions for health services, clinicians and consumers.
Videos
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
Associate 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.
Background
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.
