RETHINKING WOMEN’S HEALTH IN AOTEAROA

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Cantabrian Magazine sat down with Dr. Olivia Smart who is making waves in women's healthcare as an advocate and an innovator.

CM: Tell me what you do and what drives your work. 

Dr. O: 

I’m a gynaecologist which means I specialise in medical and surgical treatments for female health issues.  What I see every day is a gap between what women experience and what they’re told is ‘normal.’ Too many women are living with symptoms that affect their quality of life without realising those symptoms are treatable. My role in advocacy and education to help women access good health care is what I’m really passionate about and what drives me.

CM: What do you mean by that gap?

Dr. O.: 

There’s a well-recognised gender health gap, where women’s symptoms are more likely to be minimised, misattributed, or simply not taken as seriously. On top of that, many areas of women’s health have historically been under-researched and underfunded.

What that translates to in real life is that women often delay accessing care and when they do seek help, they’re not always met with clear answers. We’ve normalised a level of suffering whether it’s heavy bleeding, pain with sex, or pelvic symptoms that we would never accept elsewhere in medicine.

So the gap isn’t just in knowledge it’s in how women’s health is understood, prioritised, and delivered.

CM: Where does education fit into this?

Dr. O:

It’s fundamental. You can’t advocate for a body you don’t understand. You cant communicate unless you have the correct language to do so. Many women have never been taught the basics of their own anatomy, and that affects how confident they feel asking questions or describing symptoms. Being able to provide easy to access information empowers women to understand their health and changes that might be occuring. When that understanding shifts, even slightly, their whole approach changes.

CM: Why is intimacy such an important part of your work?

Dr. O: 

Because it’s one of the areas where the silence is loudest. Women often assume changes in hormones, pain with sex, or vaginal dryness are just part of ageing or something personal to them. In many cases there’s a clear medical driver but the whakama or shame that women experience, often alongside self blame,can be such a huge barrier to discussing problems with a health care provider.  relationships are a fundamental part of our existence as humans and the unravelling of intimacy can be devastating for a couple.

CM: What would you like women to do differently when it comes to their healthcare?

Dr. O:
I’d love women to feel more confident asking questions and expecting clarity. A good consultation should be a partnership. It’s okay to ask, ‘What are my options?’ or ‘Is this normal?’

Prepare for a health consultation like you would for a job interview. Set out the expectations of what you would like to get out of the meeting and write down questions you have beforehand.
If something doesn’t feel right, if you feel dismissed or unheard that’s important data.
It’s okay to make a follow up appointment or seek a second opinion.

CM: How is the current health system affecting women’s care?

Dr. O:
Access to good women’s health care is increasingly challenging and across Aotearoa it has become a postcode lottery.
The care you receive can depend heavily on where you live and what services are available locally, and that creates real inequity.

Our Cantabrian population have been significantly affected due to resource constraints in the Waitaha Canterbury health region. We need to move beyond quietly accepting the status quo and start advocating, both individually and collectively, for improved access to care.

CM: What would you most like to see change?

Dr. O:
I’d like to see a shift in expectations, not just from women but from the health system as a whole.

We need to move towards a more proactive, preventative approach where women are supported through transitions like menopause and offered care before problems escalate.
We should expect to feel well, not just ‘fine for our age. That comes from better education, more open conversations, and improved access to care.

CM: What’s the one thing you’d want readers to take away?

Dr. O:
If something is bothering you, it’s worth asking about. It is very likely that many women will be going through something similar to you.
One of the biggest shifts I see is when womens start talking to each other.

When you open up to friends, whanau, colleagues, you realise that you are not alone and that can be incredibly powerful.

From there its about building your knowledge, trusting what your body is telling you and seeking help early and often. Understanding your body gives you choice and that’s where real empowerment begins.

Dr. Olivia Smart is a mother and private physician in Canterbury. She is also co-founder of NuBalm. You can find her on Instagram here.