Sexual health check is available at Manuka Medical Centre

How to make your next sexual health check less, erm … awkward

Hasan ShafiGeneral Practice

Many people find the idea of a sexual health check awkward or embarrassing. After all, it’s not every day someone you barely know asks you intimate details about your sex life or asks to examine your genitals. But sexual health checks don’t have to be awkward (and many don’t even involve us examining you). Book a sexual health check with us at our clinic in Manuka. You can book online or call us. Deborah Bateson, a clinical lecturer at the University of Sydney, recently wrote an article for The Conversation emphasising that nothing you say will shock or embarrass healthcare providers during your next sexual health check. It’s important to remember that being open and honest about your sexual health …

Women's health services a focus with a Dr tong at Manuka Medical Centre

Hot flushes, night sweats, brain fog? Here’s what we know about phytoestrogens for menopausal symptoms

Hasan ShafiGeneral Practice

Hot flushes and night sweats are the most common of these, affecting 75% of women and the symptom for which most women seek treatment. Others include changes in weight and body composition, skin changes, poor sleep, headaches, joint pain, vaginal dryness, depression and brain fog.

While menopause hormone therapy is the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms, it is sometimes not recommended (such as following breast cancer, as there is conflicting evidence about the safety of menopause hormone therapy following breast cancer) or avoided by people who may seek non-hormonal therapies to manage symptoms. In Australia, it is estimated more than one-third of women seek complementary or alternative medicines to manage menopausal symptoms.

But do they work? Or are they a waste of time and considerable amounts of money?

Health Check

I’m approaching a ‘milestone’ birthday. What health checks should I have at my age?

Hasan ShafiGeneral Practice

Haven’t had a health check in a while, or ever? You’re not alone. Most people wait until they’re sick to see a GP, so there’s not usually much time in a consultation to also talk about preventative health. So, should you book a check with your GP just to talk about what you can do to stay well? And if so, what should you be discussing? It depends on your life stage. In case you need them, here are some of the services we can offer: Doctors won’t check you for everything It may surprise you there is no evidence that a “general health check-up” will give you better health outcomes.  Some preventive checks in low-risk and otherwise well patients have shown no …