Overlapping symptoms
Periods, contraception, sexual health, reproductive health, endometriosis, premenstrual symptoms, menopause, vulval symptoms, hair changes, weight and metabolic management, and skin changes can be discussed together.
Women’s health and hormones
Women’s health consultations
Women’s health consultations are for patients who need time to explain symptoms, review options and choose a safe next step across periods, contraception, reproductive health, menopause, skin, hair and related concerns.
Start here if
Start here when your concern is medical, hormonal, reproductive or connected to a life stage, and you are not sure whether a more specific service page is the right fit.
Who this is for
Is women’s health consultations the right starting point?
A service category is a starting point, not a diagnosis. The clinician may recommend a different appointment, referral, follow-up or preparation step after review.
Planning and follow-up
The appointment may support prescriptions, referral advice, results review, investigation planning, procedure preparation or follow-up.
Unsure starting point
You do not need to know the final diagnosis before booking. The clinician may recommend a more suitable appointment or staged plan after review.
What to expect
Process and preparation
The exact appointment depends on symptoms, preparation, suitability and clinician judgement.
Appointment process
Bring your questions
Before your appointment, think about what you want to understand or change. No question is silly. Writing your concerns down — including changes in symptoms, cycle, bleeding, mood, energy, contraception or sexual health — helps you make the most of the time.
Discussion and clinical history
The clinician takes a structured history covering periods, contraception, sexual and reproductive health, pregnancy plans, hormonal symptoms, medicines, mental health and family history where relevant. You set the pace of the conversation.
Examination and tests if needed
An examination may be appropriate depending on your concern. Pathology, ultrasound, cervical screening or other investigations may be arranged. You can decline or defer at any point.
A plan you can act on
The clinician explains options, expected outcomes, side effects, alternatives and follow-up. Prescriptions, referrals or procedure planning happen here. You leave with a plan you understand and can change as needed.
Preparation
Bring your concerns and questions
Writing your top two or three questions in advance helps you raise the things that matter most. Bring a list of current medicines, supplements and recent investigations.
Track cycle, symptoms or bleeding patterns
If your concern relates to periods, perimenopause, mood, contraception or fertility, a few weeks of tracking — using a calendar, app or notes — gives the clinician more useful information than memory alone.
Bring any recent results
Pathology results, ultrasounds, specialist letters and previous procedure summaries help avoid duplication and save time.
Safety and expectations
Risks, limits and aftercare
Read the limits and aftercare notes before booking so the next step matches your concern and urgency.
Risks and limitations
Not urgent care
Routine online booking does not replace urgent assessment. Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms — heavy unexpected bleeding, severe pain, suspected sepsis or pregnancy complications — need phone or urgent care advice.
Telehealth has limits
Telehealth supports many women’s health conversations, but examinations, certain procedures and acute concerns need an in-clinic visit.
Clinical decisions need review
Prescriptions, procedures and referrals depend on assessment, records, suitability and clinician judgement. Sometimes the most appropriate next step is investigation or another visit, not immediate treatment.
Aftercare and follow-up
Follow the agreed plan
Whether the plan involves a prescription, a procedure, an investigation or watchful waiting, consistent follow-through usually improves outcomes.
Know when to return
Symptoms that change, new bleeding patterns, side effects from medicines or anything that no longer feels right are reasons to return sooner than your scheduled follow-up.
Use trusted resources between visits
For ongoing learning between appointments, Healthdirect Australia (healthdirect.gov.au) and Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (jeanhailes.org.au) provide evidence-based information reviewed by Australian clinicians.
Booking and fees
Choose a safe next step
Book directly when the pathway is clear, or use the booking page if appointment type, timing or provider fit is uncertain.
Booking pathway
Book a women’s health appointment
The primary booking option opens the women’s health new patient appointment on Halaxy. Use the alternates below for telehealth, a returning-patient review, or to lock the booking to Dr Virginia French.
Urgent concerns
If symptoms feel unsafe.
For urgent concerns that cannot wait for routine booking, call the clinic during opening hours, or seek urgent medical care by calling 000 for emergencies, CALMS after-hours general practice on 02 6260 3300 or attend the GP urgent care clinic at Woden.
If the exact pathway is not clear, use the booking page rather than guessing a procedure or review appointment.
Other booking options for this service
Women’s health telehealth or review discussion
Check the women’s health page if a remote discussion may fit your review, results discussion or medication planning question.
Women's health significant review (20 min, in-clinic)
Returning patient significant review for women’s health concerns where there are changes or new information to discuss.
Women's health significant review (20 min, telehealth)
Telehealth version of the women’s health significant review. Suitable when no examination or procedure is needed.
Fees for this pathway
Current fees linked to this service
These fee rows come from current clinic fee records. Medicare rebate, out-of-pocket and bulk billing details are shown only where they are supported by the published fee record.
Women’s health new patient consultation
40 minutes
From A$345
Women’s health new-patient fees vary by practitioner; Dr French’s current listed fee remains A$360.
Medicare rebate: Medicare rebate and out-of-pocket estimates depend on eligibility and the item number billed.
Women’s health brief review
15 minutes
A$185
Brief review for simple follow-up where no significant changes are expected. A 50% deposit is required to book online.
Medicare rebate: Medicare rebate and out-of-pocket estimates depend on eligibility and the item number billed.
Women’s health significant review
20 minutes
A$225
Significant review or follow-up appointment listed in current clinic fee information.
Medicare rebate: Medicare rebate and out-of-pocket estimates depend on eligibility and the item number billed.
Women’s health telehealth new patient
40 minutes
A$368
Eligible new-patient women’s health consultation by Halaxy Telehealth.
Medicare rebate: Medicare rebate and out-of-pocket estimates depend on eligibility and the item number billed.
Women’s health telehealth significant review
20 minutes
A$220
Eligible significant review or follow-up appointment by Halaxy Telehealth.
Medicare rebate: Medicare rebate and out-of-pocket estimates depend on eligibility and the item number billed.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions
What can I discuss in a women’s health consultation?
You can discuss contraception, periods, reproductive health, sexual health, endometriosis, menopause symptoms, Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), procedure planning, prescriptions, referrals and related concerns.
Can I discuss more than one issue?
Yes, but complex concerns may need a longer appointment or follow-up. Use the booking page if you are unsure which appointment length fits.
Can this be telehealth?
Some women’s health appointments may be suitable for telehealth. Telehealth does not replace urgent care, examinations or procedures.
Do I need a referral?
Many appointments can be booked directly. Some investigations, procedures or specialist pathways may require records, referral advice or preparation.