Age and parity highest risk for pelvic floor dysfunction - 10% at age 40 and 50% by age 80 with at least one pelvic floor symptoms - Pregnancy effect on pelvic floor: hormononal effect + weight of the fetus, upto 6 weeks postpartum can have some degree of prolapse due...
Women in Surgery
At a recent colorectal journal club in Melbourne (photo below) , I realised how there is still a significant gender gap in Colorectal Surgery. As women colorectal surgeons, we are in a unique position to mitigate the embarrassment faced by most women when presenting with anorectal symptoms. My patients often...
Cancer screening in Australia for people with a family history of colorectal cancer
Last year, my colleagues and I published a review article in Australian Journal of General Practice about current Australian guidelines on screening patients with no symptoms of bowel cancer which happen to have a family history of bowel cancer. I have attached a copy of the article, which is available...
Faecal Incontinence- is the problem in the mind?
In this study, the authors looked at the functional brain MRI images of patients with faecal incontinence and compared them to healthy individuals. When the rectum in these individuals was stimulated, the response observed in the brain was somewhat different to that seen in healthy individuals. This suggests that the...