About

Our goal is to provide patients a personalised and achievable plan to assist with management of Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain (EPP). Your plan may include various investigations, treatments, group workshops and/or access to a qualified multi-disciplinary team.

We aim to provide you with information and resources you can utilise throughout your life.

Our team are here to support you to ensure you no longer feel alone in your pain journey.

Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinic

Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinic

Our EPP team of health professionals are committed to helping you improve your pelvic pain by providing information/resources, education, listening and understanding. We will support you on your journey towards improved health and lifestyle. Pain does not just affect our physical health; we all experience pain in different ways and personal priorities and strategies may also differ.

We have chosen a multi-disciplinary approach to the care that we will provide to you. This may involve a Women’s Health (WH) GP, WH Nurse, WH Physiotherapist, Pelvic Pain Educator or Dietitian. We run programs to connect patients with other health professionals and each other in order to learn new skills and tools to assist with pain management. Each plan will be unique to the individual being cared for.

 

Patient Journey

Referral

A referral from your usual GP is preferred, detailing all past treatment and investigations relevant to your Endometriosis / Pelvic Pain (EPP). You may self refer—however, you will be required to obtain relevant health history and reports.

Questionnaires

We ask that you complete intake questionnaires, which are reviewed by our WH Nurse. These determine your suitability for the program and let us find out more about you and your story.

Intake WH Nurse Appointment

Your initial appointment with the WH Nurse will be approx. 45 mins. No charge applies.

GP Consultation & Plan

An introductory support consultation with a WHC GP to connect, listen, advise, investigate and plan.

Allied Health Input

You may be referred within our centre to see a WH Physiotherapist, a Pelvic Health Educator or a dietitian. Groups are available for psychological input at various times during the year.

Follow Up and Review

We will remain in contact with you to ensure you are being supported and any referrals you have received are actioned. Follow up and review will be organised as indicated in your personal treatment plan.

 

What we need from you

Referral from your usual treating GP is preferred.

However, if you self-refer, we will require the following information, where possible:

  • Past medical history
  • Gynaecology and obstetric history
  • Medications you are currently taking or have taken previously for your pelvic pain
  • Results of any investigations you have had for your pelvic pain such as ultrasounds, blood tests etc.

Keen to get started? Complete our intake questionnaire:

https://coffsharbourwomenshealthcentre.snapforms.com.au/form/epp-intake-questionnaire

Making a Referral

To refer a patient to the EPP Clinic, please send the following information to whc@healthvoyage.org.au:

  • The patient’s past medical history
  • Their gynaecology and obstetric history, including any relevant surgical reports
  • Medications they are currently taking or have taken previously for pelvic pain
  • Results of any investigations for pelvic pain such as ultrasounds, blood tests

Please note that our services are designed to work in collaboration with each patient’s regular GP. Each patient will be encouraged to utilise the services of the clinic and then be discharged from our clinic back to their usual GP for ongoing management of their pelvic pain.

Please note, we cannot provide prescriptions for S8 medication (e.g. codeine, endone) through our service. We also cannot offer surgical or gynaecology services (but we can provide referrals and recommendations).

If you have any further questions, please contact (02) 6652 8111 to speak with our EPP Program Manager, Heidi Mortimer (WH Physio) or email whc@healthvoyage.org.au.

Resources

The Patient Journey (PDF)

Websites we like:

  1. Pelvic Pain Foundation – https://www.pelvicpain.org.au/
  2. Jean Hailes – https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/
  3. Endometriosis Australia – https://endometriosisaustralia.org/

Pelvic Pain Foundation

Downloads: https://www.pelvicpain.org.au/learn/download/

  1. Introduction to Pelvic Pain 2019 – Prof Susan Evans
  2. Easy Stretches to Relax the Pelvis
  3. Managing Chronic Pelvic Pain in Girls and Women

Other info:

  1. For women: https://www.pelvicpain.org.au/learn/for-women/
  2. For teens: https://www.pelvicpain.org.au/learn/for-teens/
  3. For parents: https://www.pelvicpain.org.au/tips-for-parents-of-teens-with-pain/
  4. Diet: https://www.pelvicpain.org.au/an-irritable-bowel/
  5. Bladder pain: https://www.pelvicpain.org.au/bladder-pain/
  6. Painful sex: https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/sex-sexual-health/painful-sex-dyspareunia

Jeans Hailes

Period pain – https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/periods/period-pain

Pain and sleep – https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/resources/sleep-and-persistent-pelvic-pain-fact-sheet

Endometriosis fact sheet – https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/endometriosis

Endometriosis Australia

Pain psychology: – calming the nervous system

https://endometriosisaustralia.org/why-calming-down-the-nervous-system-can-help-endometriosis/

Support groups:

Endometriosis Australia – Supporting someone with Endo: https://endometriosisaustralia.org/7-ways-to-support-someone-with-endometriosis/

Contact Details

Coffs Harbour Women’s Health Centre  02 6652 8111