Health care that listens, at every stage of life.
From your first period to menopause and beyond, our GPs look after the whole of you — not just the thing you came in about. Female doctors are available, and every consultation is bulk billed with a valid Medicare card.
In plain English
What is women’s health care?
Women’s health care is general practice care for the parts of your health that are specific to being a woman — periods, hormones, contraception, pregnancy, cervical and breast screening, menopause — plus the conditions that affect women differently, such as heart health, bone strength, thyroid problems and mood.
Two of the most effective screening programs in Australia are for women — cervical screening and breast screening — and both work by finding changes years before they would ever cause a symptom. Attending on schedule is the single biggest thing most women can do for their long-term health.
Beyond screening, a great deal of what women put up with is treatable. Heavy or painful periods, menopausal symptoms that wreck sleep, bladder leakage, low iron, persistent fatigue — these are common, but common is not the same as something you have to live with.
Seeing the same GP over time also matters here more than almost anywhere. Contraception, pregnancy, fertility and menopause are decisions made across years, not in single appointments.
0 things this covers
- Periods — heavy, painful, irregular or absent
- Contraception, including implants, IUDs, the pill and emergency contraception
- Cervical screening tests, and follow-up if a result needs it
- Breast checks, and referral for mammograms and ultrasounds
- Pregnancy care — planning, antenatal shared care and after the birth
- Fertility concerns and referral to specialists where needed
- Menopause and perimenopause, including hormone therapy discussions
- Bladder, pelvic floor and continence problems
- Sexual health, including STI testing and treatment
- Bone, heart and thyroid health, which affect women differently
- Mental health, including perinatal mental health
Any woman or girl, at any stage — a teenager with periods that are stopping her going to school, a woman weighing up contraception, someone trying to conceive, someone in the middle of menopause, someone due for a cervical screening test. You do not need a referral, a diagnosis, or a reason you think is serious enough. “Something feels off” is a reason.
Not part of this service: emergencies — call 000 for severe abdominal pain, heavy bleeding with dizziness or fainting, or any sudden severe symptom. Some procedures and specialist care are referred on, and your GP will explain any cost before anything goes ahead.
Say so when you book and reception will arrange it. Ask for a long appointment if you need more time — it costs no more. Bulk billed, seven days a week.
Start here
What is women's health care at a GP?
Women's health is a big phrase. All it really means is the health care that looks after the parts of your body and your life that are specific to being a woman — your periods, your hormones, your breasts, your cervix, pregnancy if you want it, and contraception if you don't.
It also means the things that affect women differently. Heart health. Bone strength. Mood and sleep. Thyroid problems. Bladder control. Your GP can look after almost all of it, right here, without you needing a specialist first.
You do not need a referral to see a GP about any of this. You do not need to know what is wrong. You do not need to have a "good enough" reason. "Something feels off" is a reason.
If you would prefer to see a female doctor, say so when you book and reception will arrange it. If you would like more time, ask for a long appointment — there is no extra cost to you.
Not sure what to book? Pick what sounds closest.
Life stages
Your body changes. Your care should too.
What matters most at 19 is not what matters most at 49. Choose where you are now and see what your GP can help with.
Everything we cover
Women's health services, explained simply
Tap any topic to read more. No jargon, no assumptions — just what it is, why it matters and what happens if you book.
Explore your options
Which contraception might suit you?
Tick whatever matters to you and watch the options narrow. This is a conversation starter, not a prescription — your GP will talk it through properly.
Step by step
Your cervical screening test, start to finish
This is the test that used to be called a Pap smear. It changed in 2017 and again in 2022 — and it is quicker and less frequent than most people expect. Here is exactly what happens.
Am I due for a cervical screening test?
A rough guide only — your GP will confirm from the National Cancer Screening Register. Nothing you enter here is sent anywhere or stored.
Her Space Clinic.
A dedicated space for women’s preventive and reproductive health — cervical screening, breast health, contraception including IUDs, PCOS and everything in between. Bulk billed, with a female GP if you would prefer one.
Worth knowing
Plain-English health information — no jargon, no pressure.Ask for a long appointment if you have more than one thing to raise, and say if you would prefer a female GP — seven of our doctors are women.
General information only. This section explains services in general terms. It is not advice about your individual situation and does not replace a consultation. Screening intervals are those currently recommended in Australia; what is right for you depends on your own history.
Your GPs
Doctors here who list women's health as a special interest
Every GP at Ballarat Doctors can help with women's health. These doctors have named it as an area they focus on. All of them bulk bill.
What to expect
What actually happens when you come in
Nerves are normal. Knowing the order of things helps.
Cost
What you'll pay
Ballarat Doctors bulk bills. If you have a valid Medicare card, your women's health consultation costs you nothing at the desk — including longer appointments, cervical screening consultations, contraception discussions, menopause reviews and mental health care plans.
- Women's health consultation (standard or long)Bulk billed
- Cervical Screening Test consultationBulk billed
- Contraceptive pill review & prescriptionBulk billed
- Menopause or perimenopause health assessmentBulk billed
- Antenatal and postnatal visitsBulk billed
- IUD or implant insertion — device & consumablesSome costs may apply
- Privately purchased vaccinesCost of vaccine
Medications are separate and are charged at pharmacy prices, which may be reduced under the PBS. If an item is not covered by Medicare, reception will tell you the cost before anything goes ahead — just ask when you book on (03) 8391 7025.
Questions
The things people ask us most
Whatever it is, it's worth booking.
Book online in under a minute, or call and ask for a female GP or a longer appointment. We're open seven days, and we're accepting new patients.