23 February 2012:

Many adolescent girls with early stage or advanced endometriosis are not being diagnosed early enough and are left to try and manage the painful and sometimes debilitating symptoms of the disease.

Dr Elizabeth Farrell, Gynaecologist and Acting Medical Director with Jean Hailes for Women's Health, says the myth that endometriosis only becomes an issue once women reach their 20s, 30s or beyond is leading to the condition being missed in teenagers.

Dr Farrell says, as a result, adolescent girls may not be offered the special consideration and treatment needed to manage endometriosis in younger females. Endometriosis affects approximately one in 10 Australian women.

20 February 2012:

It's never too late for 40+ women to improve their health, their fitness, their outlook on the future and their sex life – that's the message from health experts speaking at a women's health information seminar in Canberra in early March.

"A lot of women still have the myth rattling around in their brain that reaching their 40s and beyond means life is over or on its way to being over. They believe that fat, forty and frumpy myth," says Maureen Matthews, sex educator with Jean Hailes for Women's Health.

"But things have changed. Women are living longer and so at 40 they may still have more than half their life ahead of them. Yes, at 40 you probably aren't going to wear those new hotpants with your bum cheeks hanging out – but there's no reason why you can't still be vibrant, sexually active, fit and energetic.

"Just as adolescence is a time of moving into adulthood, the 40s are a time for a woman to move into her time. She can do her own thing, develop her own confidence, pursue her own interests and dedicate time to herself."

The Sex, Health & Your Life event on Wednesday 7 March 2012 timed to coincide with International Women's Day on March 8, has been specifically developed for women in their 40s and beyond. Experts in the area of physiotherapy and fitness, general practice and sex education will share up-to-date and practical information to help women manage physical and emotional health issues.

20 February 2012:

A glance down the nutrition aisle of any supermarket or pharmacy illustrates how big – and baffling – the supplement industry has become.

"We live in a world where we think we can quickly fix everything with a pill – late nights, long working hours, stress or a poor diet. We think popping a supplement will fix all that. But that's not necessarily the case," says Terrill Bruere, Dietitian at Jean Hailes for Women's Health.

Bruere is also co-author of an article in the latest edition of the Jean Hailes magazine that finds there are many myths around supplements.

15 February 2012:

Jean Hailes Magazine out now!

The latest Jean Hailes National Magazine is available now, featuring a range of health issues relevant to Australian women. In this issue, we focus on the choices women face about their health that can sometimes seem like a minefield of confusion. We bring you information on breast health, nutritional supplements and last but not least, relaxation.

8 February 2012:

Gentlemen, if your sex life isn't as active as it used to be, doing the dishes, taking out the rubbish and helping out with those routine household chores may help.

Buying her flowers, writing love letters, organising a night out for just the two of you, providing plenty of hugs and kisses, and saying 'I love you' are also 'desire enhancers' that can help younger women overcome a flagging libido, says Dr Rosie King, sex therapist and educator with Jean Hailes for Women's Health.

Australian research suggests around 55 per cent of women experience low libido at some point in their life and women under the age of 40 are no exception, says Dr King.

31 January 2012:

Did you know that 74 per cent of women have a happier sex life when they are sober? And there are plenty of other benefits from having a break from alcohol, too – such as saving money, better sleep and weight loss.

At the start of the annual febfast campaign that encourages Australians to stop drinking alcohol for a month, Jean Hailes for Women's Health says it's important for women to take a frank look at how their drinking habits are impacting on their health.

"Unless you have a break from drinking, you don't realise how much it has become a habit," says Terrill Bruere, Dietitian at Jean Hailes for Women's Health.

23 January 2012:

From knowing how to halt weight gain to being able to identify the healthiest foods to eat - knowing the facts is important for your health.

Did you know that most of the salt you eat is in pre-packaged foods such as breads, biscuits, sauces and flavourings? Or that it's healthier to eat a piece of fruit than to drink a glass of fruit juice?

Did you know that young women are one of the groups in Australia gaining excess weight the fastest? They're gaining an average 6kg to 7kg per decade.

"But a few simple lifestyle changes in how we eat and in physical activity levels can prevent this weight creep and avoid a lifetime of dieting," says Terrill Bruere, dietitian at Jean Hailes for Women's Health.