Rethinking the Lens on Women’s Health

Almost nine in ten Australian women visit a GP each year — making general practice the most frequent point of contact with the health system. 

Despite this, much of what happens in those consultations is framed around reproductive needs: contraception, Pap smears, pregnancy care, or menopause. These remain essential, but they are not the full story. Women’s health extends far beyond reproduction, encompassing chronic disease, mental wellbeing, ageing, and the profound health impacts of violence and trauma.

Rethinking the Lens on Women’s Health

Women’s health should be viewed as a whole-of-life journey — from adolescence to older age, from preventive health to mental wellbeing, from chronic disease management to recovery from trauma.

The National Women’s Health Strategy 2020–2030 reflects this perspective, identifying priorities such as healthy ageing, chronic conditions, mental health, and addressing cardiovascular conditions. Yet in everyday primary care, many of these remain underexplored. That gap leaves women at risk of missed diagnoses, delayed treatment, and poorer long-term outcomes.

Why Primary Care Must Step Up

General practice is uniquely positioned to shift this paradigm. Every encounter — whether for a flu shot, contraception review, or blood test — offers an opportunity to screen, educate, and intervene earlier.

Expanding the scope means:

• Detecting cardiovascular and metabolic risks before they cause harm.

• Recognising overlapping symptoms of stress, fatigue, and mood changes as potential indicators of mental health concerns.

• Creating safe environments to screen for family and domestic violence.

• Supporting women through the ageing process, not only through reproductive milestones.

This is not about adding extra workload but about making each encounter count.

Beyond Reproduction: Key Areas of Focus

Healthy ageing, chronic disease, and mental health are just as vital to women’s health as fertility or contraception.

• Healthy Ageing & Bone Health
  Osteoporosis and fall risk increase after menopause, yet preventive screening often lags. Primary care can integrate assessments and advice early.

• Chronic Disease & Prevention
  Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Australian women. Regular risk checks for blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes should be routine in GP care.

• Mental Health & Wellbeing
  Women experience higher rates of anxiety and depression. Perinatal mood disorders, if untreated, affect both mother and child. GPs are often the first to notice these patterns.

• Violence, Trauma & Abuse
  With one in three women experiencing intimate partner violence, trauma-informed screening and referral can be lifesaving.

• Reproductive Health (Beyond Basics)
  Contraception, STI testing, fertility planning, menopause, and sexual function remain important but must be placed within a broader health framework.

A Patient’s Journey

Take Sarah, a 45-year-old who visits her GP for a contraception review. Instead of focusing only on medication renewal, her doctor notices her blood pressure creeping up, opens a conversation about mood and home stress, and addresses menopausal symptoms. Within one consult, Sarah receives preventive care for hypertension, support for mental health, and a tailored menopause plan.

A year later, her cardiovascular risk is managed, her wellbeing supported, and her quality of life improved. This is women’s health done right — beyond reproduction.

Enablers in the Australian Context

For clinics to embed this broader approach, the right supports are essential:

• Education and training in menopause, trauma-informed care, and chronic disease in women.

• Adequate funding and rebates that recognise longer preventive consultations.

• Digital tools and prompts within best practice software to flag preventive checks.

• Referral networks linking GPs to psychologists, allied health, family violence services, and community resources.

• Culturally safe care, designed with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, culturally diverse groups, and LGBTIQ+ communities.

One advantage of the digital age is the rise of platforms and professional networks that provide continuing education, practical resources, and collaborative spaces for clinicians across disciplines. These tools allow busy clinicians to stay updated and supported, making it easier to bring whole-of-life women’s health into daily practice.

Final Word

Women’s health is a lifelong journey. By rethinking the lens in primary care, we can prevent chronic disease, improve mental wellbeing, reduce inequities, and ultimately help women live healthier, longer lives.

The strategies and policies already exist — the task now is to bring them into practice. With the support of digital platforms and collaborative networks, including those like RxTro, clinicians can access the education and tools needed to deliver truly holistic women’s health across the lifespan.