top of page

Women's Health

Three women of different ages

At Leeson Clinic, Dr. Sheila Byrne provides a full range of medical services to women of all ages, including weight management, family planning, contraceptive advice, sexual health advice, antenatal care, cervical screening, and menopause advice.  Some of these services are available free of charge to eligible patients. 

​

As an experienced GP, Dr. Sheila Byrne believes strongly in disease prevention when possible, and health optimisation, and takes a proactive approach in collaboration with her patients to work towards these goals.

Breast Check

Breast cancer is the most common female cancer in Ireland. Approximately 2,700 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Ireland each year. Most (8 out of 10) are over 50, but younger women, and in rare cases men, can also get breast cancer. Read more on our Cancer page.

​

BreastCheck is a government-funded programme providing free breast screening to women aged 50 to 69. Eligible women are invited to attend for a free mammogram on an area-by-area basis every two years. The aim of BreastCheck is to reduce deaths from breast cancer by finding and treating the disease at an early stage.

​

It is important for women of all ages to regularly check their breasts for lumps and changes. Watch this video on how to check your breasts for more information.

Menopause

Menopause

The menopause is when a woman stops having periods and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally. Periods usually start to become less frequent over a few months or years before they stop. Sometimes they can stop suddenly. The menopause is a natural part of ageing. It usually happens between 45 and 55 years of age as a woman's oestrogen levels decline. The average age for a woman to reach the menopause is 51. But around 1 in 100 women experience the menopause before 40 years of age. This is known as premature or early menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency.

​

Symptoms of the menopause

Most women will experience menopausal symptoms. Some of these can be severe and have a significant impact on everyday activities.

 

Common symptoms include:

  • hot flushes

  • night sweats

  • vaginal dryness and discomfort during sex

  • difficulty sleeping

  • low mood or anxiety

  • reduced sex drive (libido)

  • problems with memory and concentration ("brain fog")

  • joint aches and pains

  • urinary issues

 

Menopausal symptoms can begin months or even years before your periods stop, and can last years. But support and treatment is available to help alleviate symptoms and improve your quality of life. 

​​

Talk to Dr. Sheila Byrne if:

  • you have menopausal symptoms that are troubling you

  • you're experiencing symptoms before 45 years of age

 

Menopause is usually confirmed based on symptoms. But sometimes blood tests to check your hormone levels may be offered.

​

Treatments for menopausal symptoms


Dr. Sheila Byrne can recommend treatments and lifestyle changes if you have bothersome menopausal symptoms. These include:

  • hormone replacement therapy (HRT) – tablets, skin patches, or gels that can help ease menopausal symptoms by replacing oestrogen

  • vaginal oestrogen creams, lubricants or moisturisers for vaginal dryness

  • cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – a type of talking therapy that can help with low mood and anxiety

  • eating a healthy, balanced diet and exercising regularly can improve some menopausal symptoms and reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis

​

She can also help with referral to a menopause specialist if your symptoms do not improve after treatment or if you cannot take HRT.

​

Menopause Video Resources

Check out the ICGP video series on menopause here. 

​

These resources have been assembled by the ICGP’s Director of Women’s Health, Dr Nóirín O’Herlihy and the ICGP’s GP Clinical Lead in Women’s Health, Dr Ciara McCarthy. The 5 short videos will give you some general information about menopause, what it is, how it is diagnosed, and what to expect from its treatment.

​

​

Useful Links & Resources

This content of this page (and links to other sites) is for general information purposes only and does not substitute medical advice. While we endeavour to keep this website up-to-date, errors may occur. We advise all patients to discuss their health concerns with their GP. If you would like to suggest amendments or highlight new information that could be useful to others please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

bottom of page