Sexual and Reproductive Health
Sexual and reproductive health affects all women in all stages of their life from childhood to older age.
Sexual and reproductive health issues for women can include:
- Relationships
- Pregnancy
- Motherhood
- Contraception
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexual and reproductive health is a priority that forms a major part of the work conducted at WHISE because:
- Young women (46%) are less likely than men (61%) to always use condoms when having sex 1
- Rates of gonorrhoea are higher for women than men in the aged group of 10 – 19 years 2
- Over half of all pregnancies in Australia are unplanned 3
- Chlamydia is the most common STI in Australia and if left untreated can lead to infertility 4
Melbourne Sexual Health Centre
The Melbourne Sexual Health Centre is a clinic staffed by doctors and nurses who test for and treat sexually transmitted infections (STI’s).
1800 032 017
Nurse on Call
A telephone service, staffed by registered nurses who provide health advice to the community, 24 hours a day.
1300 60 60 24
Family Planning Victoria
http://www.fpv.org.au (external lin
(03) 9257 0121
Women’s Health Victoria
Publications and resources related to Sexual and Reproductive health (external link).
Marie Stopes
Provides sexual and reproductive health care to the community through information and advice.
http://www.mariestopes.org.au (external link)
1800 003 707
Women’s Health Information Centre
The women’s health information centre provides women with the opportunity to receive individualised support and advice from experienced women’s health nurses and midwives. http://www.thewomens.org.au/WomensHealthInformationCentre (external link)
(03) 8345 3045
Australian Breastfeeding Association
http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/default.htm (external link)
Breastfeeding helpline – 1800 686 2 686
Papscreen Victoria
PapScreen Victoria provides information and support for women and health professionals on Pap tests (also called Pap smears). http://www.papscreen.org.au (external link)
Breastscreen Victoria
BreastScreen Victoria is a government funded mammographic screening program in Australia for women without breast symptoms or breast... for more information or to make an appointment call 13 20 50
http://www.breastscreen.org.au (external link)
References
1 Smith A, Agius P, Mitchell A, Berrett C & Pitts M 2009, ‘Secondary students and sexual health 2008: results of the 4th national survey of Australian secondary students, HIV/AIDS and sexual health (external link)(PDF: 665KB)’. La Trobe University: Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society; 2009 [accessed 18 July 2011].
2 Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing 2008, National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System; (external link)
3 Marie Stopes International 2010, ‘Women and abortion (external link)’
4 Marie Stopes International, 2010, ‘Chlamydia Q&A’s brochure (external link)’
