Women's Health

Sign in

#Womens Health

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Infertility was often an experience associated with sadness and stigma, particularly in societies which prioritised and privileged the family above all else. File picture</p>

comment-analysis

The pain of infertility has always been part of life and how we make sense of ourselves

For couples experiencing infertility and miscarriage, the venerated ideal of the family must have been challenging to see, writes Niamh NicGhabhann Coleman

<p>Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns</p>

politics

Dáil vote defeats Social Democrats' abortion bill

<p> Don Cachin, cardiac nurse at the Beacon Hospital in Sandyford, Dublin, where he works as a cardiac nurse. He told Sarah Horgan of his time working as an emergency nurse in Libya between 2011 and 2014. Picture: Moya Nolan</p>

comment-analysis

'Only God knows': Don brings a wealth of understanding to his nursing job in Dublin

Close up of woman receiving botox injection in lips

news

Lack of legislation around injectable aesthetics 'glaring public safety failure'

SOCIAL DEMOCRATS NATIONAL CONFERENCE

politics

Holly Cairns: 'Back legislation to remove three-day wait for abortion services'

‘I wouldn't have survived’: Limerick woman gets hysterectomy at 33 after years of severe pain

munster

‘I wouldn't have survived’: Limerick woman gets hysterectomy at 33 after years of severe pain

Woman with red manicure holding blister with contraceptive hormonal pills in her hands closeup

'Significant gaps' in free contraception scheme

Women over 35 are ineligible as are asylum seekers and undocumented women, the National Women's Council says

Wed, 22 Apr, 2026

Four more postnatal hubs to open after success of first five

Four more postnatal hubs to open after success of first five

'Every single community in this entire country should have something like this... it's just invaluable' one mother told researchers

Tue, 21 Apr, 2026

Doctors advised to avoid prescribing opioids for long-term pain due to lack of evidence

Doctors advised to avoid prescribing opioids for long-term pain due to lack of evidence

Dr Niamh O'Brien also flagged concerns about some types of over-the-counter pain medication containing codeine, seeing it cause acute kidney damage in some cases

Fri, 10 Apr, 2026

stressed woman sitting on sofa at home

80% of women in Cork addiction services also have mental health conditions, study finds

Nearly half of the women reported at least one attempted suicide, while nearly four out of 10 said they had experienced domestic violence

Wed, 08 Apr, 2026

dermatologist Inspecting patient skin moles at clinic

Almost a tenth of people on hospital lists awaiting dermatology care

Among the 60,700 people on the lists are 3,600 children, according to the Irish Hospital Consultants Association

Thu, 02 Apr, 2026

Certificate of loss for early miscarriages could be in place by next year

Certificate of loss for early miscarriages could be in place by next year

Senator Linda Nelson Murray said she has personal experience with this issue

Mon, 30 Mar, 2026

Doctor writing a medical prescription

Diary of a Gen Z Student: Don’t buy whatever online course influencers are selling — going to the GP is in

Don’t let the influencers convince you that you should only want your body to function the way it naturally does

Fri, 20 Mar, 2026

Jennifer Horgan: All this female-gaze sex on TV is a wonderful distraction

Jennifer Horgan: All this female-gaze sex on TV is a wonderful distraction

The explosion in women-friendly raunch on the likes of Bridgerton, Rivals and Vladimir shows there's a huge appetite - but is it for fun, or to distract us from wider horrors?

Fri, 20 Mar, 2026

'I experienced pain for 13 years before I was diagnosed': The fight to improve endometriosis care

'I experienced pain for 13 years before I was diagnosed': The fight to improve endometriosis care

A conference on the painful condition heard that although care has improved, much more needs to be done

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Cancer death rates

AI can pick up heart disease signs in breast cancer screenings

Women with mild calcification were around 30% more likely to suffer serious heart disease compared to those without, the study found

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

'More needs to be done' for endometriosis patients, says health minister

'More needs to be done' for endometriosis patients, says health minister

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill pledged to bring surgeons from abroad to work here, as well as providing additional funding

Fri, 06 Mar, 2026

Senior female friends having good time together

'They play a huge role in the community': Minister’s funding vow for Women’s Sheds

Ahead of International Women’s Day, Jennifer Murnane O'Connor says she is working with ministerial colleagues to put funding for Women’s Shed on a par with Men’s Sheds.

Fri, 06 Mar, 2026

Rare disease strategy launch

Endometriosis awareness programme set for nationwide rollout

Previously run by just two volunteers, the MISE (menstrual information specialising in endometriosis) programme is now being backed by the HSE

Thu, 05 Mar, 2026

Matternity hospital rents hotel beds for pregnant women

Fresh €100m critical care plan aims to halt Rotunda Hospital relocation

New application for expanded critical care and sexual assault unit could secure Rotunda’s future at city centre site

Tue, 03 Mar, 2026

Labour launches bill which could reopen Rotunda Hospital planning appeal

Labour launches bill which could reopen Rotunda Hospital planning appeal

New bill would compel the Government to clarify its position on co‑location — and if it says the Rotunda should remain at Parnell Square, the law would allow planning appeal to be reopened

Mon, 02 Mar, 2026

Doctors in University Hospital Limerick express concerns over 'toxic fumes' amid works

Doctors in University Hospital Limerick express concerns over 'toxic fumes' amid works

They say staff and patients are experiencing symptoms including headaches and irritated sinuses

Wed, 25 Feb, 2026

Pregnancies later in life and obesity rates partially account for rise in caesarean sections, committee told

Pregnancies later in life and obesity rates partially account for rise in caesarean sections, committee told

'In some countries where they’ve seen low rates of caesarean section, they’ve actually seen slightly higher cerebral palsy and adverse incident rates,' the Oireachtas health committee heard

Wed, 25 Feb, 2026

State apology urged over thalidomide as survivors meet Taoiseach and Tánaiste

State apology urged over thalidomide as survivors meet Taoiseach and Tánaiste

Mary Clarken said: 'Everybody knows that healing can only properly begin with an apology'

Tue, 24 Feb, 2026

Ireland has more stillborn babies than road deaths every year, Oireachtas committee told

Ireland has more stillborn babies than road deaths every year, Oireachtas committee told

Cork woman Mairie Cregan, of Feileacain the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, discussed the need to raise awareness of preventable baby deaths

Wed, 18 Feb, 2026

Taoiseach Micheal Martin visit to Wexford

Taoiseach to meet thalidomide survivors as calls for State apology intensify

Six decades after thalidomide caused catastrophic birth defects, survivors seek a formal State apology and appropriate redress

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

Endometriosis: Search continues for key staff for Cork regional centre

Endometriosis: Search continues for key staff for Cork regional centre

CUMH clinical director said efforts are ongoing to fill all remaining posts. Meanwhile, concerns remain about ESAIS, the new endometriosis surgery abroad interim scheme

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

'Pause' has forced women abroad for surgery to treat incontinence for last seven years

'Pause' has forced women abroad for surgery to treat incontinence for last seven years

Some types of mesh surgery were paused here in 2018 due to serious safety concerns raised by women

Wed, 11 Feb, 2026

Dublin man went blind in one eye after using weight-loss jabs

Dublin man went blind in one eye after using weight-loss jabs

Man had been taking jabs once a week for two years

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

Is a shift towards for-profit care homes a fair deal for all?

Is a shift towards for-profit care homes a fair deal for all?

Nursing home models don't fully address fears about dementia and long-term care. As the population ages, the Government urgently needs to plan, writes Suzanne Cahill

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

Mid adult woman crouching and choosing sanitary pads

Diary of a Gen Z Student: No shame in menstruation. Period

Unfortunately for me and everyone else in my life, I’m just a little more feral during those desperate few days. One practice of mine that probably doesn’t help is that I refuse to keep track of my cycle or symptoms

Fri, 30 Jan, 2026

Sad woman

Women in Irish prisons four times more likely to self harm than male inmates

Irish Prison Service reports call for screening and continuity of care

Mon, 26 Jan, 2026

East Cork clinic part of the 'bigger picture' in bringing cervical cancer care to vulnerable groups

East Cork clinic part of the 'bigger picture' in bringing cervical cancer care to vulnerable groups

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month around the world, with a renewed focus on this preventable disease. Ireland is 'on target' to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040, the HSE said

Mon, 26 Jan, 2026

Two injectors dosing pens for subcutaneous injection of antidiabetic medication or anti-obesity medication hovering over a blue

Ozempic, Hollywood and the new war on weight: what lies behind the wonder drug

As Ozempic reshapes bodies and expectations, a new book probes the science, profits and risks behind the global weight-loss boom

Sun, 25 Jan, 2026

HSE's free contraception scheme 'should be expanded'

HSE's free contraception scheme 'should be expanded'

HSE data shows that, excluding general appointments, costs came to €31,396,464 last year. This included costs for contraceptive items of €16,472,479

Fri, 23 Jan, 2026

HER VOICE PROJECT; ENDOMETRIOSIS

Irish Examiner view: Urgent need to fix flaws in endometriosis scheme

The stark testimony shared by those demonstrating in Dublin this week has brought home the human cost of not addressing this problem adequately

Fri, 23 Jan, 2026

HER VOICE PROJECT; ENDOMETRIOSIS

'I found out I couldn't have children in July because of how extensive things are'

Women protest outside the Dáil over gaps in care

Thu, 22 Jan, 2026

No surge in new patients as free HRT scheme costs €14m in first four months

No surge in new patients as free HRT scheme costs €14m in first four months

Scheme only opened in June after questions were raised around how it would roll out across pharmacies

Tue, 20 Jan, 2026

Tributes paid to inspirational breast cancer campaigner Ziva Cussen following her death at 24

Tributes paid to inspirational breast cancer campaigner Ziva Cussen following her death at 24

Ziva, who died aged 24 at the weekend, became a tireless advocate for cancer patients after her own experience of diagnosis delays

Mon, 19 Jan, 2026

'Clear as mud' application process for endometriosis treatment putting women off, advocates say

'Clear as mud' application process for endometriosis treatment putting women off, advocates say

Lisa Walsh, co-founder of support group My Voice Project, says she has heard 'that consultants here in Ireland are refusing to sign the paperwork or referrals to access the appropriate care abroad'

Mon, 19 Jan, 2026

Mammogram - Derby City Hospital

Breast cancer: Limerick and Kerry among worst affected counties in survival rate ‘postcode lottery’

Breast cancer survival rates are as much as 14% lower in some counties than others with Limerick, Kerry, and Mayo among the worst areas in the country

Mon, 19 Jan, 2026

‘In Myanmar, I could feed my children. I can’t do the same here’

‘In Myanmar, I could feed my children. I can’t do the same here’

From 2026, funding for humanitarian aid to support Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh will be halved, writes Eilis Staunton

Thu, 15 Jan, 2026

mouth checkup oral hygiene. white healthy woman teeth and dentist mirror. closeup

Department defends commitment to oral health policy despite no date for implementation plan

The national oral health policy, Smile Agus Sláinte, aims to provide supports for everyone to have healthy teeth and reduce inequalities in healthcare

Thu, 08 Jan, 2026

Ireland's support is crucial in tackling Kenya’s femicide crisis

Ireland's support is crucial in tackling Kenya’s femicide crisis

Irish Aid funding is making a difference to women’s lives in Kenya

Wed, 07 Jan, 2026

Women's voices are being silenced on social media — here's what I'm doing about it

Women's voices are being silenced on social media — here's what I'm doing about it

Chief executive of CensHERship Clio Wood is on a mission to tackle digital suppression of women’s health content across social media platforms

Wed, 07 Jan, 2026

‘Five years is nothing’: Parents explain why Christmas grief after baby loss never fades

‘Five years is nothing’: Parents explain why Christmas grief after baby loss never fades

Bereaved parents share why Christmas grief never fades and how small, thoughtful gestures can offer real comfort

Wed, 31 Dec, 2025

Aucklanders Encouraged To Vaccinate As Measles Cases Continue To Rise

'Major public health achievements' seen across the world despite cuts to humanitarian funding

New treatments have brought positive news during a tumultuous time across the world

Sat, 27 Dec, 2025

Hospital Hallway with Doctors, Nurses and Specialists in Hospital. Female and Male Physicians, Surgeons, Healthcare Officials Wa

Hospital visiting restrictions remain as total number of flu patients dips below 700

HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry cautioned cases could rise again as people socialise more over the holiday period

Mon, 22 Dec, 2025

HSE head unable to clarify when Portiuncula hospital will resume care for high-risk pregnancies

HSE head unable to clarify when Portiuncula hospital will resume care for high-risk pregnancies

It means 'between about 250 and 300 women' with specific clinical issues are seen instead in Galway or Mullingar hospitals

Wed, 17 Dec, 2025

Family seek first inquest of its kind here after 'reservations' over autopsy of woman who died in CUMH

Family seek first inquest of its kind here after 'reservations' over autopsy of woman who died in CUMH

Stephy Ouseph died last year after a caesarean birth and her family have 'grave reservations about the adequacy' of the autopsy

Wed, 17 Dec, 2025