An Australian-first inquiry into women’s pain will be held in Victoria after a survey of women in the state found two in five respondents suffered from chronic pain.
The premier, Jacinta Allan, and the health minister, Mary-Anne Thomas, on Monday announced the inquiry, which will examine the systemic issues women face when seeking care and support for pain.
Allan, who suffers from endometriosis, said while chronic pain affects a higher proportion of girls and women than men, women are less likely to receive treatment.
She said this was in part because women were told that there pain was “normal” by medical professionals.
“Many women in our community know that there is a gendered pain gap. They know that their pain is real and they also know that for too long, that pain hasn’t both been believed and received the treatment it needs and deserves through our health system,” Allan told reporters.
“That is why the government is placing a significant amount of attention and resources on this issue, because when we support women’s health, we support the health of all Victorians.”
Led by a panel of experts and overseen by the Women’s Health Advisory Council, which is chaired by Labor MP Kat Theophanous, the inquiry will hear from women with lived experience of pain, as well as healthcare workers and stakeholders.
It will make recommendations and report back to the health minister by the end of 2024.
The inquiry was part of a $153m women’s health package that Labor took to the 2022 election and includes a commitment to create 20 comprehensive women’s health clinics, double the number of endometriosis surgeries in the public system and create a Women’s Health Research Institute.
The federal government has also released a National Women’s Health Strategy and established 20 clinics to treat pelvic pain and endometriosis across the country.
The survey also found half of participants reported menstruation-related conditions, such as heavy periods, cramping and PMS affect their health and wellbeing. About 30% of participants said they were affected by symptoms of perimenopause or menopause and half of women who have been pregnant reported pregnancy and birth complications continued to affect their health.
One in three women also reported insensitive and disrespectful health practitioners, who left them feeling dismissed and unheard.
The online survey of 1,772 women was conducted during September and October 2023 by Engage Victoria, the government’s consultation arm.
Thomas said the survey findings were consistent with efforts to remove the “shame and stigma” associated with women’s health.
“I remember scuttling off to the bathroom trying to hide pads and tampons, ashamed that I had my period when I was at school,” she said.
“We know that it was not too long ago where to talk about menopause was something that no one does in polite company, let alone in the parliament.
“Our role as leaders … is to break down that shame and stigma and empower more women to talk about what’s happening to their bodies, and to make sure that they’re accessing the health care that they need.”
Marilla Druitt, an obstetrician, gynaecologist and women’s pain specialist based in Geelong, said the survey was consistent with the growing awareness of women’s pain.
“The results of the survey are a good example of if you build health literacy in the community, you probably find more problems but then you can fix them more easily,” she said.
Druitt said women should not have to live with pain that directly interferes with daily activities, such as working or having a social life.
“We need pain because it’s a protective mechanism to keep you out of trouble. But if it’s changing the function of your life then that’s not acceptable,” she said.
The clinical director of obstetrics and gynaecology at Peninsula Health, Nisha Khot, said healthcare professionals were letting women down.
“It’s not that women are afraid or shy of speaking – it’s that we have not been listening,” she said.
“If we start from the position of listening with an inquiry, then that would be a good start to get to the bottom of where women’s pain comes from and how we best manage it.”
Khot said there were “little things” the health system can do to improve women’s care and cited a successful trial at Peninsula Health that saw every patient who has an IUD inserted or removed offered Penthrox, a painkiller commonly known as the green whistle.
“An IUD is actually the best and most reliable method of contraception and for women who are afraid to get it because of pain – they are missing out on a really useful way of managing their own lives,” she said.
Druitt said even something as simple as playing calming music could help women through such a procedure.
