Participants sought: Have you been affected by miscarriage?

Seeking those affected by miscarriage for study on improving support

Have you been affected by miscarriage? Women, partners and family members affected by miscarriage more than 3 months ago but within the last 2 years are invited to participate in a research study to help gain a better understanding of what information, advice, support and resources would be most helpful after miscarriage. Participants are invited to be part of a community discussion on how we can improve miscarriage support. One on one interviews can also be arranged. Any information you provide to us is strictly confidential.

Male grief overlooked after miscarriage, study finds

Men report feeling devastated and powerless after miscarriage

by Anne Crawford

A Melbourne Sexual Health Centre study revealing how men feel after experiencing a miscarriage has attracted significant media attention.

The qualitative study, published recently in PLOS ONE, found that although most men described experiencing considerable grief following a miscarriage – with many reporting feeling devastated, shocked and powerless – they felt there was little acknowledgment of their loss from healthcare providers and social networks, and inadequate support.

"What's going on down there?" Bacterial vaginosis explained

A new website with information about bacterial vaginosis

A new website aimed at raising awareness about common vaginal conditions, 'What's Going On Down There?' www.wgodt.com.au, has recently been launched by researchers at Monash University.   Led by Dr Jade Bilardi (Central Clinical School), in collaboration with researchers from Alfred Health/Monash University (Associate Professor Catriona Bradshaw, Professor Christopher Fairley, Dr Lenka Vodstrcil) and the University of Melbourne (Professor Meredith Temple-Smith),  the website aims to inform women about a relatively unknown vaginal condition - bacterial vaginosis (BV).

Participants sought: Gaining consumer views on a pregnancy related information and advice website

What online information is most helpful for women who have experienced
miscarriage? Image: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TmtJPpeiSo

The Melbourne Sexual Health Centre is conducting a study to explore women’s online miscarriage related health seeking behaviours and their views on the design and content of a pregnancy related website.
We hope to gain a better understanding about what information, advice, support and resources would be most helpful to women experiencing miscarriage. *Please note the aim of this study is not to explore or ask women about their actual experiences of miscarriage*.

Recurrent bacterial vaginosis - a female perspective

By Dr Jodie Abramovitch

Dr Jade Bilardi - first author of the BV study

The most common vaginal infection of women of reproductive age is bacterial vaginosis (BV). BV is characterised by an imbalance of natural vaginal bacteria species leading to symptoms such as abnormal odour and discharge. It has more seriously been associated with an increased incidence of miscarriage, premature birth, HIV and a higher risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted infection.

The cause of BV and the way it is transmitted from person to person are not well understood. However, there is increasing evidence BV may be sexually transmitted. Current treatment and patient management is suboptimal, leading to a high recurrence rate among affected women.