Glow ups in gynae: celebrating the small wins in the ongoing battle that is women’s health
By Grace Ross
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Sometimes, it feels like there’s little to be hopeful about when it comes to women’s health. Between conservatives attempting (and succeeding) to roll back reproductive rights at home and abroad, and wellness influencers who continue to demonise contraception to the masses, it’s a scary time to have a uterus. But today, let’s focus on the few pockets of good - because progress deserves to be celebrated.
Following a recent day of placement at the hospital, I found myself debriefing with a fellow medical student over a cup of tea. We discussed how, in just four weeks of gynaecology clinic, we had learnt more about our bodies than we ever did during our high school sex education.
Our ‘curriculum’ back then had involved a handful of condoms, the infamous ‘Tea Consent’ video, and very little else. Contraception was something you learnt about from a friend of a friend. We bonded over the quintessential experience of booking a doctor’s appointment for the pill and insisting it was purely for acne - because pimples felt less shameful than sex or period pain.
Thankfully, times are changing. Conversations about the menstrual cycle are becoming mainstream, hormone replacement therapy has transformed menopause care, and conditions like endometriosis are finally being recognised as debilitating rather than dismissed. Given that women make up more than half the Australian population (and the entirety of the reproductive labour force), it’s refreshing to see overdue attention on innovations in this space.
We have a long way to go, but it’s important to recognise positive change as it’s occurring. It both affirms our fight for better, and allows us to stay informed to understand what new forms of healthcare we can access.
So, what’s new?
A speculum that doesn’t feel medieval
For those unfamiliar, the speculum is a device used during pelvic exams to visualise the vagina and cervix. It’s an essential tool for cervical screening and gynaecological care, but many would agree it can be an uncomfortable part of the process. Cold, rigid, and historically designed by a man who experimented on enslaved women without anaesthesia (yikes), it’s little wonder many patients dread it.
Enter the Lilium, a redesign by two engineers from Delft University in the Netherlands. Made of semi-flexible, medical-grade TPV rubber, the Lilium can be inserted either by a clinician or by the patient themself, similar to a tampon. Its three-blade design opens like a flower, giving practitioners a better visual, while being gentler in use. It can also be sterilised in an autoclave machine, reducing medical waste.
Recognised by its special mention at the 2024 BraunPrize and successful crowdfunding launch, the Lilium is not yet in clinical practice, but it’s an innovation I hope to see in the near future.
The Mirena gets an upgrade
Another exciting update from last year is that the trusty Mirena intrauterine device (IUD) has just had its tenancy contract extended. This small T-shaped device sits in the uterus, preventing pregnancy with more than 99% efficacy, making it one of the most reliable contraceptive options available.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration recently extended its approved lifespan for contraceptive use from five to eight years, following results from the Phase III Mirena Extension Trial. What does this mean? Three extra years of contraceptive protection, meaning greater convenience, affordability, and peace of mind, according to experts.
There is a caveat though - this extension applies to contraceptive use only; for other health indications such as heavy menstrual bleeding, the recommended duration may still be five years. As always - check with your doctor.
Endometriosis guidelines catch up
Perhaps most encouragingly, 2025 has seen the release of the Australian Living Evidence Guideline for Endometriosis. Affecting one in seven Australian women and people assigned female at birth, endometriosis is notorious for its long diagnostic delays and patchy management.
The updated guideline embraces a holistic, patient-centred approach, recognising that endometriosis affects far more than just the pelvis. Fatigue, fertility, mental health, and quality of life are all front and centre.
Crucially, the guideline recommends earlier access to imaging and clearer referral pathways, as well as shared decision-making and multidisciplinary care. Translation: less limbo, more answers, and hopefully fewer years of being told ‘it’s just bad period pain.’
The bigger picture
From a flower-shaped speculum to a longer-lasting IUD, to guidelines that better reflect lived experiences - women’s health is finally seeing innovation that feels both practical and empowering.
It’s long overdue, but these changes make me hopeful that the next generation won’t have to learn about contraception and menstrual health through whispers in the schoolyard, but through open conversations and evidence-based care.
This article reflects the author’s personal views as a student. It is intended for general information only and does not constitute medical advice.
About the author
Grace Ross
Grace Ross is a fourth-year medical student based in rural Australia with a passion for women’s health and health equity. She writes about breakthroughs in women’s health, access to care, and the challenges shaping Australia’s health system.
