Women’s Health Dietitian Melbourne & Online

Evidenced-based, weight-inclusive nutrition support for women navigating hormonal changes throughout life stages

Evidenced-Based Women’s Health Support

Women’s health is complex, and nutrition advice shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all.

Many of my clients arrive feeling:

◻️ Overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information about hormones, nutrition and women’s health

◻️ Frustrated that their symptoms aren’t being taken seriously

◻️ Unsure of what to eat to support their hormones and overall health

◻️ Tired of constantly trying to “fix” their body

◻️ Anxious about food and worried they’re getting nutrition “wrong”

If you’re tired of…

◻️ Being handed generic “just lose weight” advice for complex conditions like PMOS or endometriosis

◻️ Wasting money on viral social media nutrition and wellness trends

◻️ Being told that “it’s all in your head”

◻️ Being given restrictive diets that leave you feeling hungry, guilty or overwhelmed

◻️ Focusing on weight when what you really want is to feel better, nourished, and energised

I provide weight-inclusive, non-diet support that focuses on nourishing your body, supporting your health and helping you make sense of the often-conflicting nutrition advice surrounding women’s health.

Evidenced-Based Women’s Health Support for

Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) is the new name for the condition previously known as PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome).
PMOS is a complex multi-system condition characterised by a mix or all of high levels of androgens, insulin resistance, and ovulatory dysfunction. PMOS affects 1 in 8 women worldwide.
Symptoms and clinical presentation vary between individuals and may include:
- Insulin resistance
- Androgenic alopecia (female pattern hair loss)
- Acne
- Hirsutism (excess hair growth on areas such as the face, neck and back)
- Anxiety and depression
- Body image concerns
- Disordered eating and eating disorders

Perimenopause is often called the second puberty. It is the ~2 to 10 year transition period before menopause. It can be the time of the greatest symptoms.
Most common symptoms:
- Change to menstrual cycle
- Fatigue
- Brain fog
- Hot flushes
- Night sweats
- Insomnia
- Mood changes
- Loss of libido
- Change of body composition

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus.
Endometriosis affects around 1 in 10 women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB).
Symptoms vary widely, and some people have no symptoms at all:
- No symptoms: 0-7%
- Infertility: 20-30%
- Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhoea): 40-60%
- Chronic pelvic pain: up to 70%
- Gastrointestinal symptoms: constipation, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting

Menopause is a normal, natural event defined as the day of the final menstrual period, confirmed after 12 months of no menstrual bleeding.
Post menopause is the life phase that begins the day after menopause. It is usually a time of almost no symptoms.
Following menopause, changing hormone levels can influence bone health, muscle mass, cardiovascular health, metabolism, and nutritional requirements.

Irregular menstrual cycles are periods that do not follow a consistent or predictable pattern. For example, your period may arrive earlier or later than expected, or the length of your cycle may vary significantly from month to month.
The average menstrual cycle is around 28 days, although cycle length can vary between individuals. Menstrual bleeding typically lasts around 3-7 days.
An irregular menstrual cycle is defined as:
- 8 or fewer menstrual cycles per year
- Menstrual cycles than are shorter than 21 days
- Menstrual cycles that are longer than 35 days
There are many possible causes of irregular periods. These may include dieting or restrictive eating, eating disorders, low energy availability, excessive exercise, changes in physical activity, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), pregnancy, hormonal medications or contraception, and stress.

Iron deficiency is when your body does not contain enough iron. Iron is an essential mineral for your body. It is vital to produce red blood cells, which are important for:
- a healthy immune system
- cognitive function
- muscle strength and energy
Women are more susceptible to iron deficiency due to menstrual blood loss. Iron deficiency anaemia affects approximately:
- 15% of non-pregnant premenopausal women
- 12% of pregnant women

Appointments

PMS refers to the symptoms that may occur a week or two before your period starts. Around 90% of women experience some symptoms, while around 20% to 40% experience symptoms that impact their daily life.
Symptoms can be emotional, physical or both and may include:
- Cramping in the pelvic area
- Bloating
- Breast swelling and tenderness
- Fluid retention
- Acne
- Mood changes, anxiety, low mood and irritability
PMDD is a more severe condition similar to PMS that causes intense emotional and psychological distress in the one to two weeks before menstruation with symptoms usually settling once menstruation starts. PMDD affects about 3% to 8% of women of reproductive age. Symptoms can significantly interfere with daily life.
Common symptoms include:
- Extreme or sudden changes in mood, such as suddenly feeling sad or tearful, or becoming more sensitive to rejection
- Irritability, anger, or increased conflict with others
- Feelings of depression, hopelessness, worthlessness, or guilt
- Anxiety, tension, or feeling ‘on edge’
Other symptoms may include:
- Reduced interest in usual activities
- Difficulty concentrating
- Lethargy, increased fatigue, or a noticeable lack of energy
- Significant changes in appetite, including overeating or cravings for specific foods
- Sleeping excessively or difficulty sleeping
- Feeling overwhelmed or a sense of being out of control
- Physical symptoms such as breast tenderness or swelling, joint or muscle pain, bloating or feeling of weight gain

Osteoporosis is called a “silent” disease because bones weaken without visible symptoms or pain. Many people are unaware they have brittle bones until they have a minor fall and break a bone.
Osteoporosis is common in Australia with an estimated:
- 1.2 million people with osteoporosis
- 6.3 million people with low bone density