Benefits of the new HPV Test 
 

A new type of cervical screening test introduced in September will be much more “accessible and acceptable” for people, according to Oxford Women’s Health gynaecologist Olivia Smart.

On 12 September, the primary test for cervical screening switched from the traditional smear test to a human papillomavirus (HPV) test. The test will still be completed by your usual screening provider, although some people will be able to do the test themselves following a consultation. 
A traditional smear test will also be available if people prefer it. The HPV test will be available to everyone with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 69.

Olivia says the test is not only simpler but more effective in detecting HPV. “Most people will have an HPV infection at some time in their lives, and while most will clear within two years, some infections persist and can lead to cervical cancer.”

“It is predicted this new test will lead to more pre-cancerous cells being identified and a 15 per cent reduction in cervical cancer in New Zealand, even if current rates of cervical screening don’t increase.”

Olivia says that the test is important for everyone with a cervix, including those who:
·      Have ever had intimate skin-to-skin sexual activity (even if this was decades ago)
·      Have only had non-penetrative sex (oral sex)
·      Are straight, gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or queer
·      Are transgender, gender-diverse, non-binary with cervix
·      Have only ever been with one sexual partner

Gynaecologist Olivia Smart

·   Have had the HPV vaccination or not
·   Are pregnant or who have had a baby
·   Have been through menopause.

Screening isn’t free for everyone but is free for people with a cervix 30 years and over, who have never had a screening test or who are under 35 and haven’t had one in five years; anyone who is at higher risk of cervical cancer and requires follow-up; Māori and Pacific people; and anyone who is a community services holder.

People will be reminded when they are due for cervical screening through the National Screening Register. This will happen from the time they turn 25 and receive their first test.

Most people will only require the new test every five years rather than three yearly as has previously been required.

More information about the HPV test, and how to contact the National Screening Register if you think you are due or overdue for screening, can be found at timetoscreen.nz.
 

New clinics available in Greymouth

Due to increasing demand for women’s health services on the West Coast, gynaecologist Simon Jones will be providing monthly clinics at the Coastal Health GP practice in Greymouth from Friday 6 October. 

We are very much looking forward to serving the needs of the West Coast community.

If you would like to make an appointment, please phone 03 379 0555 or visit the Oxford Women’s Health website. 
 

Gynaecologist Simon Jones

Welcome to Dr Stringer

We are thrilled to welcome new Oxford Women’s Health team member Madeleine Stringer.

Dr Stringer is a gynaecologist with a special clinical interest in general gynaecology, laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, and colposcopy.

Alongside her work at Oxford Women’s Health, Dr Stringer is a consultant at Christchurch Women’s Hospital, and a senior clinical lecturer at the University of Otago. She is also a wellbeing representative as part of the RANZCOG wellbeing working group, mentors and teaches junior doctors, and presents research at local and international medical conferences.
 

Gynaecologist Madeleine Stringer

To make an appointment to see Dr Stringer, please call the friendly Oxford Women’s Health team on 03 379 0555.

Gaining insight at the World Congress on Endometriosis

Oxford Women’s Health was well represented at the 15th World Congress on Endometriosis in Edinburgh in May.

Gynaecologist Michael East and Deborah Bush, our Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Coach, both attended as well as University of Otago Associate Professor Jane Girling and members of the recently formed New Zealand Menstrual Health Research Network.

More than 1,000 delegates travelled from all corners of the world, keen to hear from researchers, clinicians and advocates about progress in scientific research, advances in clinical practice, and what patients need and want. One of the speakers included Dr Jen Gunter, the author of ‘The Vagina Bible’ and ‘The Menopause Manifesto’.

Here's what our delegates had to say:

Michael East
One of the key discussions for me was about adenomyosis being more common and a bigger contributor to pelvic pain than previously thought. Historically, it has not been widely acknowledged as being as important as endometriosis. A poster with an update on Mike’s research on Inflammatory mediators in peritoneal fluid collected before and after surgery to remove endometriosis was displayed throughout the conference.

Jane Girling
I found the research about our overall understanding of chronic pain particularly interesting.

It was a privilege to listen to Professor Lorimer Moseley (University of South Australia) of ‘Explain Pain’ fame, and Daniel Clauw (University of Michigan), who between them have added so much to our understanding of the complexities of  pain. Hearing these speakers reminded me that we still have so much to understand about the interaction between endometriosis and the pain experience.

The disease is still an enigma, but as each Congress passes, we move a little closer to making change that will improve the quality of life for all those who deal with this nasty disease.

Deborah Bush
It was great to see New Zealand so well represented at the Congress. For me, this congress offered a more diverse programme which captured the many facets and impacts of endometriosis, adenomyosis and pelvic pain.

We heard from experts in sociology, psychology, social media, gut microbiota, diagnostics, aetiology, epidemiology, aspects of pain, and patient centric multi-disciplinary care. There was also good representation from those with endometriosis who articulated their experiences and challenged speakers on current treatment and management.
 

Finding peace with Mindfulness and Physiotherapy

Jo Hopkinson-Haigh is a master of teaching people the tools to find peace in the chaos of modern life.

As a physiotherapist for more than 20 years, she says she always starts with the body when looking to assist people with pain and stress. “If someone is feeling overwhelmed there will always be a physical response – for example, the way they are holding themselves and the way they are breathing. If we start there the rest follows.”

Jo, who runs Mindful Physiotherapy at Oxford Women’s Health, is also a qualified contemporary yoga instructor, massage therapist, and is trained in acupuncture and the Bradcliffe Breathing Method.

She applies her research-based practices when working with patients to manage and treat the symptoms of menopause, stress, anxiety, breathing pattern disorders, nervous system overwhelm, chronic pain, headaches, sleep disturbance, and the effects of long-Covid and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).

She says “coming back to your breath” is a simple technique that she teaches all of her clients to use whenever they need to restore themselves to a state of calm. It can be applied to an incredibly wide range of situations from experiencing a panic attack, to managing pain, and even coping with an unexpected event.

Jo says she has found that pain is greatly influenced by, not only the 
 

Mindful Physiotherapist Jo Hopkinson-Haigh

primary cause, but all the other stresses a person may have in their life.

“As women, we often have so many things to juggle and a nagging pain can become so much worse when you are trying to cope with it on top of everything else.”

“Some people who have been stressed and in pain for a long time don’t even remember what a state of calm feels like. Helping them to get to that is one of the great joys of my job.”

Jo says she always takes a multi-faceted approach when working with people. This might involve breathwork,  mindfulness, trigger point and myofascial release, massage, pain education, everyday movement, acupuncture, and achievable yoga techniques.

Our patients are reporting positive life changing outcomes from sessions with Jo, across a wide range of conditions.

News in brief

Dr Bryony Simcock joins the team
We are delighted to advise that Gynae-Oncologist Dr Bryony Simcock is joining the Oxford Women’s Health team from mid-October.

We look forward to introducing Dr Simcock in our summer newsletter.

Measuring the skin metabolome to determine menopause status
In conjunction with AgResearch and University of Otago, Dr Anna Fenton is running a trial to determine whether the skin metabalome can provide a definitive indication of whether a woman is pre/peri or post-menopausal. 

The novel test is non-invasive and painless. A small amount of liquid is applied to the participant’s inner forearm, and peeled off once it dries. 

The resultant “skin-peel” is then frozen until it is analysed. Samples will be taken from 180 participants’ skin
 

Gynaecological Endocrinologist Anna Fenton

over coming months and the results measured by AgResearch. 

It is an exciting study and we look forward to sharing the results when they are available.