![](https://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/infographics/6635/IHH_BANNER.jpg)
!['A scarcity of research': Are menstruation and suicide sometimes connected?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'A scarcity of research': Are menstruation and suicide sometimes connected?
Women attempt suicide at much greater rates than men, but little is known why.
![Mesh surgeries to be halted in NZ, victim says 'significant step' for injured women](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
Mesh surgeries to be halted in NZ, victim says 'significant step' for injured women
The extraordinary move came after a petition by a mesh-injured patient.
![Health Committee accused of ‘passing the buck’ on surgical mesh](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
Health Committee accused of ‘passing the buck’ on surgical mesh
The ministry said there was no consensus on whether mesh operations should be paused.
![Half of surgeons assessed for using surgical mesh did not meet minimum standards](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
Half of surgeons assessed for using surgical mesh did not meet minimum standards
It comes as the Ministry of Health considers a pause on mesh implants for some operations.
![Five tips for navigating menopause](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
Five tips for navigating menopause
While menopause is a significant time of change, it isn’t talked about much.
!['I felt like I was failing as a mother': New mum $10k out of pocket after ACC snub](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'I felt like I was failing as a mother': New mum $10k out of pocket after ACC snub
"Eventually I broke...I didn't want to be here anymore. I felt defeated, and quite alone."
![Mum looking at $12k bill to avoid surgical mesh treatment](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
Mum looking at $12k bill to avoid surgical mesh treatment
If she opts for treatment using mesh it's free because her insurance company covers it.
![Surgical mesh: 38 more lives harmed after Govt warning to hospitals](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
Surgical mesh: 38 more lives harmed after Govt warning to hospitals
Living on morphine, suicidal from "razor blade" pain and one women's vagina sewn closed.
!['It needs to stop': Petition demands halt on surgical mesh for birth injuries](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'It needs to stop': Petition demands halt on surgical mesh for birth injuries
'Harm is happening all over the country.'
!['Razor blade pain': Surgical mesh harm patient living on morphine, becoming suicidal](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'Razor blade pain': Surgical mesh harm patient living on morphine, becoming suicidal
"Mesh harm is happening all over the country and it needs to stop."
!['It's like a grater on raw wounds': Mum, 35, says mesh implant cripples her](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'It's like a grater on raw wounds': Mum, 35, says mesh implant cripples her
"It makes me incredibly angry. I mentioned my hesitancy to mesh..." 35-year-old mum tells.
!['I thought my life was on the line': Young mum undergoes three surgeries after placenta left inside of her](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'I thought my life was on the line': Young mum undergoes three surgeries after placenta left inside of her
'I was in extreme pain, it felt worse than when I was in labour'.
!['We can be a voice for them': Green MP on 'heartbreaking' surgical mesh claims](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'We can be a voice for them': Green MP on 'heartbreaking' surgical mesh claims
MP's promise comes after Herald exposed investigation into claims women harmed by its use.
!['I've been robbed of my life': Patient says surgical mesh used without consent](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'I've been robbed of my life': Patient says surgical mesh used without consent
"I used to be fun and outgoing ... now I live on eight Tramadol a day."
!['Rotting' surgical mesh leaves woman without a bladder](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'Rotting' surgical mesh leaves woman without a bladder
Sally Walker shared her harrowing experience with the Herald.
!['I remember waking up screaming': Investigation into claims doctors harmed women with surgical mesh](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'I remember waking up screaming': Investigation into claims doctors harmed women with surgical mesh
Eight women say they never gave consent for surgical mesh to be implanted into their body.
!['Sorry doesn't cut it': Mother's life destroyed by medical incompetence](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'Sorry doesn't cut it': Mother's life destroyed by medical incompetence
Cindy Bridson says she's lucky to be alive.
![The broken public healthcare system leaving women in pain](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
The broken public healthcare system leaving women in pain
One woman was told her pain was all in her head. It was - in fact it was a brain tumour.
!['Like a dark blanket that covers your life': Depressed mum 'not critical enough' for support](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'Like a dark blanket that covers your life': Depressed mum 'not critical enough' for support
"She looks at me and goes 'mummy do you not want me any more?'"
![Surgical mesh: Report reveals restorative justice helpful for victims but action to protect others slow](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
Surgical mesh: Report reveals restorative justice helpful for victims but action to protect others slow
The impact of the government's restorative justice for mesh has been examined.
![Life-threatening endometriosis delays, surgery wait times up to three years](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
Life-threatening endometriosis delays, surgery wait times up to three years
On average, women in NZ wait 8.7 years from onset symptoms to be formally diagnosed.
!['We live in a man's world': NZ lags behind other countries in women's health](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'We live in a man's world': NZ lags behind other countries in women's health
"When we look at systems of all sorts around the world we see inequality for women."
![Doctors told her she was just overweight - turns out, she had ovarian cancer](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
Doctors told her she was just overweight - turns out, she had ovarian cancer
'Something needs to change, you can't just push it away as women's problems.'
!['Women let down by system': ACC pays out $27m to women harmed by health treatment](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'Women let down by system': ACC pays out $27m to women harmed by health treatment
'There are so many areas that could be improved to better [women's] outcomes," GP says.
!['Just part of being a woman': How our health system ignores and neglects female patients - and what can be done about it](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'Just part of being a woman': How our health system ignores and neglects female patients - and what can be done about it
'I kept thinking maybe I'm just being weak, maybe I just need to harden up...'
![Women are calling out 'medical gaslighting'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
Women are calling out 'medical gaslighting'
New York Times: US studies show females more likely to have symptoms dismissed.
!['I don't want to live my life in pain': Why Aleisha had a hysterectomy at age 22](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'I don't want to live my life in pain': Why Aleisha had a hysterectomy at age 22
"I didn't feel believed and felt like doctors thought I was over-exaggerating."
!['I can't even walk properly': Mum's $30K loan for hysterectomy to end pain](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'I can't even walk properly': Mum's $30K loan for hysterectomy to end pain
Her pain was so bad she would regularly faint at work.
!['Pain is seen as a weakness so you push it aside': Ex Olympian's endometriosis battle](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'Pain is seen as a weakness so you push it aside': Ex Olympian's endometriosis battle
"I started to think I was being dramatic or crazy," cycling champ says.
!['Get pregnant, that'll fix your problems': Mum's endometriosis fight - for 20 years](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'Get pregnant, that'll fix your problems': Mum's endometriosis fight - for 20 years
Dallas was accused of being a drug seeker for repeatedly turning up to ED in pain.
!['I felt like I'd failed as a parent': Mum speaks out about traumatic births](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'I felt like I'd failed as a parent': Mum speaks out about traumatic births
Monique Cross says she was repeatedly dismissed by health professionals.
!['I did start to feel suicidal': Endometriosis patient's agonising wait for treatment](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'I did start to feel suicidal': Endometriosis patient's agonising wait for treatment
"Not because I wanted to die, but because the pain was so unbearable," 20-year-old says.
!['I was treated like a drug-seeker': Mum goes undiagnosed for a decade](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'I was treated like a drug-seeker': Mum goes undiagnosed for a decade
Emma says she was repeatedly sent home from ED feeling like no one believed her suffering.
!['Game changer for women': Govt promises women's health strategy](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'Game changer for women': Govt promises women's health strategy
Women, trans, inter-sex and non-binary people are slipping through the cracks.
![Baby death: Mum traumatised after newborn boy drops on hospital floor](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
Baby death: Mum traumatised after newborn boy drops on hospital floor
A mum was told she wasn't giving birth. Then her precious baby fell to the hospital floor.
![How gender bias in our medical workforce is ruining women's health](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
How gender bias in our medical workforce is ruining women's health
Every day, female doctors experience ingrained sexist attitudes.
!['Unacceptable': The $73k gender pay gap for doctors](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'Unacceptable': The $73k gender pay gap for doctors
Women undervalued by our health system, with detrimental impacts on patient care.
!['I felt worthless': Teen mum's heartbreak, escape from meth-addicted family](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=780)
'I felt worthless': Teen mum's heartbreak, escape from meth-addicted family
Felicity Palmer shares her story being 16 and pregnant with a family addicted to meth.