International Women’s Day

Your questions answered

Thank you to everyone who submitted questions at our International Women’s Day Luncheon.

While we weren’t able to get through them all on the day, we are pleased to provide you with some answers, provided by Dr Lauren Giles and Dr Natasha Vavrek.

Questions for Dr Lauren

Q1. How can we look after our nervous system to possibly prevent neurological illnesses in life? Are there ways to protect our brain and nerves?

ANSWER:

  • Healthy diet – some evidence for: lots of fresh green foods (lutein, folate, beta carotene), fatty fish/avocados/walnuts (omega-3), berries (flavonoids), caffeine (some mixed evidence)

  • Regular exercise

  • Avoiding head trauma

  • Regular sleep patterns

  • Engage in meaningful, mentally stimulating activities, maintain social connections – this seems simple, but has been shown to be a very powerful tool in stimulating neuronal pathways

Q2. After a head injury resulting in the loss of smell and taste, why don’t these senses ever return?

ANSWER:

  • After minor head injury, taste and smell may be affected and recover over weeks-months

  • More major head injury can affect taste and smell permanently.

  • The area of the brain and the associated nerves are vulnerable in head injury because of their anatomical location. It is often due to damage of the olfactory nerves searing off at the cribriform plate.

  • There are case reports of recovery of smell even years after head injury

Q3. Has there been any research done on trial for invitro growing myelin?

ANSWER:

  • Yes, lots of work in vitro models of demyelination and remyelination, which is where new compounds and techniques promoting remyelination are first tested out, before moving to in vivo models and clinical trials in humans.

 Questions for Dr Natasha

Q1. As the director of women’s football (NTFA), I see passive bias as one of our greatest challenges. It’s overt, and flies below the radar, but has an enormous impact on our spark. It is as simple as being directed to play secondary grounds, rather than the main stage. Do you see this as a challenge?

ANSWER:

  • Bias is a huge challenge for any woman.  The difficulty of it is that yes, as you mentioned it can fly below the radar.  It can also be extremely dangerous because usually no matter the type of bias, it has been ingrained from a young age, and often by the people that surround us, thus biases can run deep.  How do we manage this challenge?  Educate.  Educate the people around us.  Not in a hostile way but simply challenge them and encourage them to consider the impact of their bias. 

 Q2. How do you treat mastitis?

ANSWER:

  • Mastitis  is typically the result of suboptimal fit and hold, nipple damage, restrictive bras or clothing, skipping breastfeeds, or fast/abrupt weaning. To manage mastitis, the aim is to keep the affected breast as empty as possibly by emptying it often - though gently.

  • The best way of doing this is for baby to empty to breast by feeding more often and commencing each feed on the affected side.  Mothers should also be encouraged to rest, use paracetamol and NSAIDs, cold packs after feeds, and warm application to the breast prior to a feed. It is important to avoid restrictive bras or clothing. If, despite these efforts, the mastitis does not appear to be resolving in 12-24 hours, antibiotics should be commenced. If improvement still does not occur or mother is very unwell, intravenous antibiotics may be required.

  • Probiotics are being investigated in the treatment of mastitis, as is lecithin for blocked ducts. The evidence is lacking for either, currently. Another potential area for further research is ultrasound therapy to assist with reducing inflammation and relieving duct obstruction, currently being explored by physiotherapists.

 Q3. Why does some Marina (IUD) hurt so much, for some women?

ANSWER:

  • I'm going to assume this is in relation to insertion of the IUD.  For women who have not had vaginal delivery of a baby, an IUD insertion can be more uncomfortable than a woman who has, simply because the cervix has not previously dilated.  In saying that, we see many girls and women at The Bubble who have never had a vaginal delivery and their experience is positive. 

  • The insertion may also be uncomfortable if no analgesia or local anaesthetic is used.  

At the Bubble we do numerous things to ensure the best outcomes during insertion: 

  1. Pre insertion assessment to discuss risks and benefits but also to outline the procedure and what to expect

  2. Pre insertion analgesia is recommended

  3. Calming environment 

  4. Procedural assistant to talk the patient through the procedure

  5. Eucalyptus scented heat pack 

  6. Local anaesthetic 

  7. Lollipop after the insertion! 

  8. Follow up appt

 It is normal to have some pain following insertion but anything that is persisting may be abnormal and should always be investigated by your doctor.