Conference & Open Day - "What's New - What's Hot"

9:00 - 9:50am

Indigenous Adolescent Health

Keynote Speaker - Associate Professor Ngiare Brown, BMed, MPHTM, FRACGP

Positive messages for teenage health

9:50 - 10:30am

Polycystic Ovaries - What does a GP need to do?

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is common disorder generally considered to exhibit androgen excess, ovulatory dysfunction, and polycystic ovaries and is diagnosable after the exclusion of related ovulatory or other androgen excess disorders. The primary underlying aetiology of PCOS is unknown as no single identifiable pathophysiological defect has been identified in all PCOS women. The ovary is the source of excess androgens, which results from dysregulation of steroidogenesis and an excess of external promoters, mainly luteinising hormone and insulin. PCOS is important to diagnose as there are a number of potential reproductive and metabolic consequences to consider and treat. Treatment generally can be divided into that for infertility and that of long term treatment of problems such as menstrual dysfunction and hyperandrogenism. Lifestyle modification is an important and effective treatment in overweight/obese PCOS women no matter what the presenting complaint whilst the two main long-term treatment options are the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) and metformin. Surveillance for potential metabolic consequences is recommended.

10:50 - 11:25am

Contraception - New Research

11:25 - 12:00pm

STIs Including HIV and Women

An increasing number of new HIV diagnoses in Australia are in women of reproductive age. Many women with HIV want to have children and want to be able to plan their families. With good medical management planned pregnancies can give a very low risk of neonatal HIV transmission. This highlights the need for good contraceptive options for HIV positive women. Many of the HIV medications can interact with steroidal contraception or lead to unacceptable side effect profiles, moreover women with HIV may have limited knowledge about pregnancy options and contraception and so may their healthcare providers.

Dr Ellie Freedman is a sexual health physician with an interest in Medical Education. Her clinical areas of expertise include HIV management, Contraception and Sexual Assault. In addition to work at FPNSW coordinating the Medical Education Program, she works as a VMO at Parramatta Sexual Health Clinic and is associate clinical lecturer at the University of Sydney. She is interested in particular in the Sexual and Reproductive Health of Women living with HIV.

12:00 - 12:35pm

Menopause - HRT or Not?

What is the latest evidence on the use of hormone therapy; why, when and how long can you use it?
Dr Christine Read

This presentation will examine the evidence for and against hormone replacement therapy in 2009. Ever since the release by media of the Women's Health Initiative results in 2002, there has been a significant decline in the use of hormone replacement therapy by doctors and fear on the part of women with regard to its risks. In fact, as new evidence appears about HRT, we are in a better position to assess the women most likely to benefit from the prescription of HRT and those who are most likely to be at risk from adverse outcomes. This presentation seeks to put into perspective the risks and benefits of HRT and to propose the most appropriate management for a number of scenarios.

12:35 - 1:10pm

Sex and the Baby Boomers

In Australia, 12.4% of the population was aged over 65 years in 2001, and this is expected to rise to 21.3% in 2021. The sexual liberation that began in the 1960s involved a generation of people who are now entering retirement. Demographic changes have led to a broader attitude by most people about their sexual lives. This generation of "Baby Boomers" is challenging societal stereotypes of sexuality in older people. There is evidence that health practitioners are not necessarily comfortable discussing sexuality with older patients. Hurdles include ageist attitudes, embarrassment, negative societal stereotypes, and limited opportunities for intimacy for older people.

Sexual activity declines with advancing years. Many studies do not extend into the older age bracket. There is a decline of between 40% and 50% in sexual frequency for married men and women over 65. Other predictors of decline in sexual activity include partner's health status and a person's sense of self worth.

With ageing, there are physiological changes in men and women which impact on sexual arousal and performance. The treatment modalities for older people do not differ from those in younger people. However, in older individuals, the causes are more likely to have a physiological as well as a psychological element. Treatment therefore requires a holistic approach.

WORKSHOP 1 - Implanon Insertion
Implanon Insertion Training workshop - Dr Andrew Zuschmann, BS (Med) MBBS (UNSW), FRANZCOG

This Implanon Insertion Training workshop will be conducted by Dr Andrew Zuschmann, for Schering Plough. Accredited training to become an Implanon Inserter.

WORKSHOP 2 - Fertility Management
Interpreting the tests - Dr Janelle McDonald, FRANZCOG, CREI Infertility, Reproductive Endocrinology & Gynaecology

Understanding the results from infertility investigations, to preconception and pre-implantation testing. This will help you understand the tests and target your management.

Dr Janelle McDonald is a fertility specialist who has recently established an IVF practice in Bondi Junction, Sydney. Janelle joined Sydney IVF in 2001 when she set up and was Medical Director at the Sydney IVF Canberra clinic. Janelle's major interests are in female and male infertility, the effects of lifestyle change on fertility, polycystic ovary syndrome and paediatric and adolescent gynaecology.

WORKSHOP 3 - Erectile Dysfunction
A truly "hands on" session! - Dr Chris McMahon, MBBS, FAChSHM

How to understand the etiology and treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Chris G McMahon is a Consultant Sexual Health Physician and Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Physician's Chapter of Sexual Medicine. He is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney and the Director of the Australian Centre for Sexual Health in Sydney, Australia. Dr McMahon is a committee chairman for the WHO Second and Third International Consultation on Erectile and Sexual Dysfunction and a chairman of the International Society of Sexual Medicine (ISSM) Medical and Research Standards Committee.