Download with Dr Kelly

Dear Goddesses,

I wanted to take a moment to reflect on our recent Annual Fundraising Lunch, which was such an incredible event and the fourth year we’ve come together. It was truly inspiring to come together with so many wonderful women in our community, and hear from our amazing guest speaker, Amanda Ne’Roi. Her words really brought into focus the purpose of our event, and how important it is to continue to raise crucial funds for research into gynaecological cancers. 

A new piece of research that was released in April shows that while gynaecological cancer rates have doubled in the last 20 years, it continues to be among the poorest funded cancers in Australia and the survival rates are as poor as the survival rates for all cancers 50 years ago. It’s not good enough and it represents a real crisis in women’s health in Australia. 

I’m proud to announce that our event has raised an amazing $19,141 for WomenCan Fundraising, which takes our overall total to over $80,000 raised by Coastal Goddess (and our amazing community!) have raised in the past four years. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended, donated auction prizes and donated to our funding. We couldn’t do any of the without you, and I can’t express my gratitude enough. We look forward to doing it again in our fifth year in 2026.

As we kick off our second annual Intimate Health Month at The M Clinic, I want to speak directly to those of you who may be experiencing pain during sexual intercourse—known as dyspareunia—which many women face during menopause. This discomfort is often caused by hormonal changes that lead to vaginal dryness, reduced elasticity, and thinning of the vaginal walls. These changes can make intimacy feel uncomfortable, or even impossible, but they are common, and they don’t have to be endured in silence.

It’s also important to recognise that menopause often brings a decrease in libido for many women, which can make you feel disconnected or less interested in intimacy with your partner. While these changes are entirely natural, it’s not something you should ignore as it still has a significant emotional impact for women, not to mention an affect on our most important relationships with the people we love the most. 

For many women, menopause is a time when you might finally have more time to spend with your partner as your children become more independent. It’s meant to be a time to reconnect and enjoy each other, but the physical changes brought on by menopause can make this difficult.

At The M Clinic, I want to reassure you that you don’t have to accept these issues as part of the process. There are a range of treatment options that can help, whether it’s lubricants, vaginal estrogen therapy, pelvic floor therapy, or emotional support. If you’ve been experiencing pain during intimacy or a decline in libido, I encourage you to book a consultation with me. Together, we can explore personalised solutions that help you regain comfort and confidence in your intimate life.

This month, we’re running our anonymous survey for the second year to better understand how menopause has impacted intimacy for women in our community. Your responses will help us continue to improve the care and support we provide. As a thank you for participating, we have some exciting prizes in store. Your experience matters, and by sharing it, you’re helping us understand and support other women who are facing similar challenges.

If you’re ready to take the next step towards better intimate health, I invite you to book a consultation with me today. Let’s work together to ensure that menopause doesn’t hold you back from enjoying a fulfilling, intimate relationship.

Warm regards,

Dr. Kelly Needham

Founder, The M Clinic & Coastal Goddess