Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Site stuff

Join our Innovation Panel to try new features early and help make Mumsnet better.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Could we please have a gynae/women's health section?

113 replies

Graphista · 07/06/2018 14:44

I was surprised to find recently when wanting to start a thread on issues surrounding difficulty getting referrals/diagnosis that there isn't a women's health/gynae section.

I know there's a 'family planning' section but many gynae issues cause infertility/inability to stay pregnant so people with these issues may not want to be dealing with seeing that title or using that section?

Plus there's so much more to women's health than pregnancy/fertility.

OP posts:
ScreamingValenta · 08/06/2018 08:22

QueenoftheNights MNHQ could add a note at the top of Meno/General Health letting people know that there was now a specific Gynae topic if they felt it was more suitable. I think there will always be potential overlap in topics, and instances where posters don't choose the most suitable topic, but it's easy to get a thread moved if you later realise it would sit better elsewhere.

Hullabalooo · 08/06/2018 08:15

Please. Great to post about prolapse etc

IsletsOfLangerhans · 08/06/2018 08:12

Another yes. I have Fibroids and other issues - I was really surprised to not find a gynae topic when looking for advice a year or so ago...

BridgetJonesDaiquiri · 08/06/2018 08:10

Yes please

Claystone · 08/06/2018 08:09

Good plan

QueenoftheNights · 08/06/2018 08:08

Yes and no.
The General Health forum is always 50% 'wimmins stuff' anyway. There is also the Menopause forum so there will be a conflict because posters will go to Gynae and then by told to put it in Meno, just like posts on meno in General health are moved to meno now.

Blizzardofbuzzards · 08/06/2018 08:01

Absolutely!

WhoKnowsWhereTheW1neGoes · 08/06/2018 07:24

Yes please, I've had huge amounts of support from threads here in the past (gynae issues separate from fertility/pregnancy/menopause). I think a separate topic would encourage more people to start threads, and General Health moves quite fast so its easy to miss threads in Most Active and not always easy to find them by going direct to the topic. The more awareness of these issues the better as far as I'm concerned.

ISaySteadyOn · 08/06/2018 07:09

Good idea!

Tinlegs · 08/06/2018 07:04

Yes to this. Would love somewhere to go for stress incontinence. Possibly need specialist physio who posted earlier. Went looking - nothing. Would assume loads of women have the same issues.

ScreamingValenta · 08/06/2018 01:05

Most of my issues were resolved by my hysterectomy, but I feel angry that they got so far without being properly diagnosed and treated. I lost so much of my 30s to pain that I feel quite passionate about supporting other women to get an early diagnosis and treatment, to avoid the same experience.

Sharing symptoms and experience is valuable in giving women the confidence not to be fobbed off; if MN can support them by creating a place where we can easily find information about others' experiences, I really believe this will be empowering.

luxurybiscuit · 07/06/2018 23:50

Yes, absolutely. Currently facing the choice between hysterectomy, ablation or other stuff due to my very faulty/fucked up womb (years post babies). Totally past any interest in fertility or conception but would love to chat to others in a similar situation.

BigApple11 · 07/06/2018 23:44

Yes yes yes

earlybirdhasanap · 07/06/2018 23:43

Yes please.

AlpacaLypse · 07/06/2018 23:39

I'm interested. Thanks for bringing it up.

Sparklyshoes16 · 07/06/2018 23:37

Thumbs up from me! Great idea Op

Worsethingshappenatsea · 07/06/2018 23:36

Yes definitely good idea

barnacharmer · 07/06/2018 23:34

I have 2 conditions that would fit under this and no interest in family planning or conception. I think it's a great idea

dragonzebra · 07/06/2018 23:30

yes pls!

ScreamingValenta · 07/06/2018 23:29

@TheSpottedZebra I think it's about ease of reference more than gynae issues being shameful. You could by the same token argue that pregnancy is a natural thing, not shameful etc. so should sit in general health - but those seeking pregnancy advice won't want to wade through threads about mumps, measles, fractured arms etc. if they are looking for information.

@scaevola Almost all the topics you mention relate to pregnancy or fertility. Of those that don't, Menopause is quite distinct (with its own problems) from gynaecological problems suffered by women of menstruating age. The threads on cancer again are very specific and sensitive; I don't think it would feel appropriate to post there about a condition that wasn't cancerous, pre-cancerous or awaiting results of a cancer test.

eagleflies · 07/06/2018 23:26

Great idea 👍

Original poster
Graphista · 07/06/2018 23:25

It's not that women's health is "icky" but it is a specialised area of health.

Yes lots of topics around conception, pregnancy and birth but again I say that is not where you want to post if you're having gynae issues separate to conception and birth. And where the sufferer isn't wanting to be reminded of these topics around babies.

I'm 46 and speaking only for myself (but while knowing there's more like me) I'm now Peri-menopausal and facing the finality of definitely no more children - although it was actually strongly advised I consider it not an option for me (risk to life).

But I still am having to deal with a load of shit due to Endo

I'd like to be able to discuss that without it being tied in to babies. And I don't think I'm alone

OP posts:
SporkInTheToaster · 07/06/2018 23:22

Is there any way it could be troll proofed a bit though? It’ll be a magnet for fetish trolls,

TheSpottedZebra · 07/06/2018 23:15

To play devil's advocate: were women (roar!) and we have a general health section. Isn't that the place e where gynae issues belong? As in - women's bits aren't so icky and shameful that they must be hidden away in a specialist section?

landgirl1 · 07/06/2018 23:09

Yes please! I’m really learning a lot on the current period thread and now finally feel I can go back to the GP with a theory where my leg and back pain mysteriously comes and goes :)