Women’s health

RANZCOG works to improve health outcomes for women in Australia, New Zealand and globally. We provide tools and resources for women and their clinicians on a variety of women’s health issues.

Find a women’s health doctor

Search our directorate of qualified women’s health practitioners in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand to find a doctor near you.

Who is your O&G doctor?

You may be cared for by doctors at different stages of their specialist training and career in obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G), in community and hospital settings throughout Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

YOUR HEALTH
For the public 4 February 2022
Raising Awareness Tool for Endometriosis (RATE)
RATE is a quick-to-use online tool for patients and health professionals to assess possible endometriosis symptoms.

WOMEN’S HEALTH NEWS

Advocacy 7 December 2022
Statement on PMMRC report
Aotearoa New Zealand’s new health system provides a critical opportunity…
Our Members 21 November 2022
Congratulations to our RANZCOG Women’s Health Foundation grant recipients
RANZCOG offers its congratulations to the latest RANZCOG Women’s Health…
Women’s health 14 November 2022
Healthy Horizons Website Launch
RANZCOG was proud to help launch Healthy Horizons.
Advocacy 31 October 2022
RANZCOG welcomes Te Pae Tata Interim New Zealand Health Plan
RANZCOG welcomes the release of Te Pae Tata Interim New…
Advocacy 26 October 2022
Australia’s Budget October 2022–⁠23
Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers handed down Budget October 2022-2023 last…
Aotearoa New Zealand 28 September 2022
GALLERY: RANZCOG Women+ Health Summit 2022 – Flourish
The RANZCOG Women+ Health Summit 2022 took place in Te…
COVID-19 17 August 2022
COVID-19 antiviral drugs and their affect on reproductive health
Antiviral drugs prescribed for COVID-19 infection can temporarily affect reproductive…
the College 15 August 2022
Perimenopause Webinar: Periods in our 40s
Wednesday, 14 September at 5.30pm AEST…
Advocacy 8 August 2022
RANZCOG commits to continuing to build respect in workplaces
The College strongly supports the availability of abortion being an…
COVID-19 13 July 2022
COVID-19 vaccination when pregnant or breastfeeding and for those planning pregnancy
Pregnant women have a higher risk of severe illness from…
Advocacy 25 June 2022
RANZCOG statement on Roe v Wade ruling
The College strongly supports the availability of abortion being an…
COVID-19 15 June 2022
COVID-19 and pregnant health care workers and other at-risk workers
The purpose of this communiqué is to address the issue…
Aotearoa New Zealand 14 June 2022
RANZCOG welcomes commitment to women’s health strategy
RANZCOG welcomes the Government’s promise to establish a women’s health…
Cancer 14 June 2022
‘I hope that stories like that of my family make a difference’
On World Ovarian Cancer Day, Edel Taylor shares her story.
the College 14 June 2022
Shared decision making
Healthcare professionals need to communicate information about risk to patients…
the College 14 June 2022
VBAC Webinar – 14 June
Join us for this discussion on the topic of Vaginal…
Aotearoa New Zealand 22 May 2022
New Zealand budget 2022 statement
RANZCOG welcomes Aotearoa New Zealand’s latest budget.
the College 11 April 2022
Vaccination and Pregnancy webinar – 4 May
This webinar will discuss COVID-19 vaccines and seasonal influenza vaccines.

USEFUL RESOURCES

For the public


Read the most up-to-date information about health topics and medical procedures, written by expert specialist doctors.

For clinicians

Your O&G doctor uses our statements and guidelines on medical topics and procedures to inform their practice, ensuring the best outcomes for your health.

Patient information pamphlets

RESOURCES FOR CONCEPTION, PREGNANCY AND BIRTH

Why your Weight Matters During Pregnancy
By reaching a healthy weight, you are protecting your health and your baby’s wellbeing.
Vaginal Birth after Caesarean Section
For many years it was assumed that once a woman had a caesarean section, all…
The First Few Weeks Following Birth
The first few weeks after having a baby are a time of great change.
Umbilical Cord Blood Banking
Umbilical cord blood is the blood remaining in the umbilical cord and placenta after your…
Travelling during Pregnancy
In general, the second trimester is the safest and most comfortable time to travel.
Reproductive Carrier Screening
Genetic screening options for healthy couples who are planning ,or are in the early stages…
Red Blood Cell Alloimmunisation
Red Blood Cell Alloimmunisation is important to diagnose in pregnancy because it can lead to…
Prenatal Screening for Chromosomal and Genetic Conditions
Every baby has a small chance of being born with a chromosomal or genetic condition.
Pre-eclampsia and High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, very high blood pressure (severe hypertension) can cause complications for both you and…
Pregnancy Loss
This pamphlet is for women who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy, and those…
Planning for Pregnancy
Steps taken prior to conception to optimise your health can have significant long-lasting benefits for…
Pain Relief in Labour and Childbirth
Every woman experiences pain in a different way.
Labour and Birth
Every labour and birth is unique and unpredictable, making it difficult to plan.
Induction of Labour
When labour starts, a number of changes occur in your body.
Group B Streptococcus
Group B streptococcus is a very common type of bacteria that lives on our bodies.
Gestational Trophablastic Disease
GTD is a rare complication of pregnancy that is also called a ‘Molar Pregnancy’…
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy.
Monitoring the Baby’s Heart Rate in Labour
For centuries, birth attendants have listened to the baby’s heartbeat during pregnancy and labour.
Exercise during Pregnancy
There are many benefits to be gained from regular exercise during pregnancy.
Depression and Anxiety during Pregnancy and following Birth
As many as one in five women are affected by depression and anxiety during pregnancy…
Contraception
Overview of the options to prevent pregnancy.
Common Questions in Pregnancy
This pamphlet aims to answer the most common questions women ask during pregnancy.
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) is a medical procedure performed on a pregnant woman to sample…
Caesarean Section
A caesarean section is an operation in which a baby is born through an incision.
Breech Presentation at the End of your Pregnancy
Breech presentation occurs when your baby is lying bottom first or feet first in the…
Assisted Birth
There are times when assistance during birth may be required for the safety of mother…

GYNAECOLOGICAL RESOURCES

Stress Urinary Incontinence
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is when you leak urine or wet yourself with activity.
Pudendal Neuralgia
Pain caused by the nerve that supplies the skin between your pubic bone and your…
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) is a bulge or lump in the vagina, which may affect…
Menopause
Menopause literally means that a woman has had her last (or final) menstrual period.
Laparoscopy
Laparoscopy is commonly called ‘keyhole surgery’.
Hysteroscopy
A hysteroscopy is a procedure used to examine the inside of the uterus (womb).
Hysterectomy
A hysterectomy is an operation where the uterus (womb) is removed.
Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
A woman normally bleeds for five days, on average, every month.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition that can affect women of reproductive age.
Endometrial Ablation
Endometrial ablation is a surgical procedure that removes the inside layer or lining of the…
Chronic Pelvic Pain
Chronic pelvic pain is different for every woman and may be felt anywhere below the…
Cervical Screening in Australia
The Pap smear test has been replaced by the new Cervical Screening Test (CST).
Asherman Syndrome
Asherman syndrome is when scar tissue is present inside the uterus or cervix.

For the public 9 July 2020

RANZCOG Consumer Network

The RANZCOG Consumer Network provides opportunities for consumers to contribute to the work of the College, and to women’s health more broadly.
A RANZCOG Māori Fellow holding her baby

Equitable healthcare

Find out more about the work we do to improve women’s health outcomes in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and with our nearest neighbours in the Pacific.

FIRST NATIONS HEALTH

HAUORA WĀHINE MĀORI

GLOBAL HEALTH

the College 7 June 2021

RANZCOG Women’s Health Summit 2021

View recommendations from experts across the O&G field at our last Women’s Health Summit in Canberra.