Shame, stigma and silence: Women’s health still swept under the rug in West Vic
“Women were often living with these issues or pain for many years, and often might have shared it with a GP, but didn't get a positive response.”
Zara Cuthbertson
March 25, 2026
Women in western Victoria have been “putting up with pain” for years out, finding themselves dismissed by healthcare providers, travelling long distances for care, or feeling too embarrassed to speak up.
That’s according to Caitlyn Hoggan from Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West (WHWBSW). Hoggan said stigma was still a major issue in the region for women accessing sexual and reproductive health services.
What’s going on: WHWBSW released a report last week revealing the results of a survey of 450 people across south west Victoria, asking questions about their experience with women’s health services in the region.
“One issue that came through pretty strongly across all age groups and health issues was that women's pain is dismissed pretty frequently by a lot of healthcare providers,” Hoggan told the Brolga. “So women have to really advocate for themselves, to say this is not normal, that this is having a really strong impact on my wellbeing and ability to engage in life.”
Not normalised: Hoggan said “outdated social norms” attached to women’s sexual health “prevented and stifled” important conversations.
“Particularly in cases such as perimenopause and menopause, or even, you know, pelvic floor health incontinence, there's a lot of shame and stigma associated with those conditions.”
Privacy concerns were part of the reason only 28 per cent of women accessing an abortion used local services.
“There were concerns that they may run into someone that they may know at their local healthcare service,” Hoggan explained. “But we also know that there's not a lot of public discourse around abortion, and that there is still a lot of shame and stigma attached to that medical procedure, but it really is a medical procedure.”
Less doctors hitting hard: In Glenelg and the Southern Grampians, Hoggan said the impacts of GP shortages in the region were particularly profound with some having to wait up to six weeks to see a GP.
“They’re also finding it difficult to access a GP with specialisations in women's health, so they're having to travel outside the region or rely on telehealth to be able to get that women's health expertise,” said Hoggan.
Statewide: Data from LaTrobe University shows there are 409 clinicians for every 100,000 people in Melbourne, but beyond the tram tracks it can be as low as 150 in other regional areas in Victoria.
Let’s talk about it: Hoggan said normalising conversations was the key to improving the quality of services in the region.