Towards healthier lives for women

May 2005

The Women's Health Program at Monash aims to optimise the physical and psychological wellbeing of Australian women.

Report: Allison Harding
Photography: Sharon Walker

Australian women are living longer -- but not necessarily healthier -- lives, with depression, osteoporosis, breast and ovarian cancer, cardiovascular disease and dementia all taking their toll. Professor Susan Davis, the inaugural chair of women's health at Monash University, hopes to change that by investigating the factors behind the increase in women's health problems.

Professor Susan Davis: investigating what constitutes 'normal' at various stages of a woman's life.

"We want Australian women to experience the best possible quality of life by optimising their psychological, emotional, physical and social wellbeing," she says. "The best way to do this is through a combination of research, evaluation of available information and professional and community education."

Professor Davis, who is also director of the Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in the Study of Women's Health, has a particular interest in the impact and management of sex steroid depletion in women.

Her research into the role of sex hormones and cardiovascular risk in women, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1997, became highly cited, which opened doors for further funding for research into women's health issues.

One current research project involves 1500 Victorian women aged 18 to 75, randomly selected and tested in order to establish normal levels of testosterone and other hormones as well as to collect data on wellbeing and sexual function.

"This is really important, because when doctors and researchers talk about 'normal', we don't actually know what 'normal' is at various stages of a woman's life," Professor Davis says. "So this is investigating testosterone levels and their relationship with a range of other health issues such as sexual function."

Professor Davis says women are generally very good in offering themselves for research projects and trials. "We are always overwhelmed when recruiting for studies."

One such study is 'Health and wellbeing after breast cancer', which has invited every Victorian woman diagnosed with breast cancer since June 2004 to be involved.

"About 3000 Victorian women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, and various medical, psychological or lifestyle issues may arise after diagnosis and treatment," Professor Davis says.

"We don't know how many women suffer reduced quality of life or how they deal with it. Until now, most studies have been mainly drug trials that have focused on diagnosis, cause and treatment."

In the breast cancer study, diagnosed women will complete a questionnaire once a year for five years to determine how they deal with issues affecting their physical and emotional health and social and financial situation.

Healthy ageing and preventative medicine for women will continue to be a high priority for Professor Davis: "There is so much we are investigating, and so much more we can -- there are many questions still needing to be answered."

Action: For more information, visit the Women's Health Program website