Women's Health Information Centre

Links

Women's health - general
Lesbian women's health 
Pregnancy and parenting
Mental health
Miscellaneous
Healing from sexual abuse
Girls and young women
Alternative health

Women's Health - General
Click on "health information" on the left side of the home page for a great range of fact sheets. If you click on the videostream hyperlink on the home page you can access a good range of video presentations that you can view on-line. To get full benefit from these you will need a high speed internet connection (broadband). 
http://www.womhealth.org.au

Great range of on-line women's health booklets on this site.
http://www.womenshealthlondon.org.uk

This site contains in-depth information on Screening programmes available in New Zealand including the Cervical and Breast Screening programmes. 
www.nsu.govt.nz

An excellent web site for women dealing with vulval conditions such as vulval pain, vulval vestibulitis and vulvodynia
www.vulvalpainsociety.org

A fairly complex site to navigate. There is a great newsletter though which can be accessed by clicking on the "our publications" link.
www.4women.gov

The health topics A-Z section of this site is particularly good. A good range of fact sheets. Information provided is slightly more on the medical side than the alternative side. Well worth a look.
www.healthywomen.org

Excellent site if you are looking for a large range of links on a particular topic. Links range from the political to the factual. We found the Menopause, Women's Health and Teen pages the most useful.
www.fwhc.org

Newsletters on positive aging. Most inspiring!
www.positiveaging.net

For a great range of links to women's organisations check out this site. To find information on women's health on this site go to "A - Z" of health categories and scroll down to "women". 
www.supportfind.com

To access a great range of women's health fact sheets go to the "live well" section on the left side of the home page and scroll down to women's health.
www.mayoclinic.com

This site has a great interactive tools page with on-line quizzes and specific pages dedicated to different health issues for men and women. It is really user friendly and fun to use.
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

Without a high speed internet connection this site is slow to download. However if you look under the "health centres" section and click on women's health you will find some great information.
www.netdoctor.co.uk

An excellent site for women's health information. Their free downloadable magazine is particularly good. Highly recommended.
http://www.jeanhailes.org.au/

A large variety of online support groups to join on this site.
http://www.mdjunction.com/
 

Lesbian women's health
We found the "your health" page on this site had a good range of lesbian health topics on the left hand side of the page. To access the "your health" page look at the top right of the home page and click on the link.
www.lesbianhealthinfo.org

Great range of fact sheets on Lesbian health issues and a large number of links to other useful sites.
www.lesbianinformationservice.org

Site for queer youth 14 - 25 years who live in Canterbury New Zealand. Links page could be useful for those living outside this area however.
http://www.qtopia.rainbow.net.nz/index.html
 

Pregnancy and parenting 
The web site of the New Zealand College of Midwives; this site provides information for both the general public and midwives. Has information on how to choose a midwife, what questions to ask a midwife, how the New Zealand maternity system works and links to a good range of web sites on pregnancy and parenting
www.nzcom.org.nz

Click on the "Breast feeding - what's new" logo in the centre of the home page for heaps of excellent articles on breastfeeding, and breast feeding related topics.
www.lalecheleague.org

Looking for information on immunisation not produced by the medical profession? This web site may be for you.
www.ias.org.nz

A web site focusing on the politics of pregnancy and birthing but also has information on how to navigate the New Zealand maternity system.
www.maternity.org.nz

Web site of Pregnancy Help Inc., a non-profit group which offers a wide range of practical services for pregnant and recently pregnant women, new mothers and their families/whanau.
www.pregnancyhelp.org.nz

This site deals with the topic of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder related to pregnancy, birth or post natal experience. Good range of information on a topic which has only recently started to get the attention it deserves.
http://www.tabs.org.nz

A warm, supportive and informative site for women who have experienced miscarriage, and those who are supporting them. 
www.miscarriagesupport.org.nz
 
 

Mental health 
Excellent site! We thought that the "Challenging issues", "Forums", "Free downloads" and "Personal stories" tabs along the top of the home page linked to particularly good information.
http://www.self-help.co.nz

Good range of information on this site for both women and men who have been raped or have experienced sexual abuse.
http://www.rapecrisis.org.nz

On the left hand side of the home page click on "information" to get access to a great range of fact sheets
www.mind.org.uk

Huge range of mental health information. Inspirational! 
www.TouchingMinds.org

A great range of fact sheets available on this site under the consumer section. The practitioner section also has some interesting material available in it's newsletter section. 
www.atheatlh.com

Good web site for those who either have an eating disorder or who think they may have one. Also good for family/friends who are concerned that someone close to them has an eating disorder.
www.eatingdisorders.org.nz

Excellent New Zealand site on depression which has been developed by the Mental Health Foundation.
http://www.outoftheblue.org.nz/

Click on "Information and Resources" on the left hand side of the home page for a great range of mental health information.
www.mentalhealth.org.nz

A positive look at the value of mental illness
http://www.outoftheirminds.co.nz/index.html

Great factsheet on grief with masses of links to other sites on grief
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/grief_loss.htm
 

Miscellaneous 
This is the web site for the Christchurch Women's Centre 
www.womenscentre.co.nz

A thought provoking site which provides information on work-life balance and aims to promote discussion on the topic. Includes some excellent case studies demonstrating ways in which individuals and employers have created better work-life balance. 
www.worklife.govt.nz

Funny and fascinating site of the Museum of Menstruation. Look at early tampons and pads and the apparatus used with them. This site will bring back memories for some and show how times have changed. Learn about the many names and phrases used by women to describe getting their period - fascinating!. We found the site a bit hard to get around as it's pretty wordy but it was well worth the effort.
www.mum.org

A comprehensive site full of useful tips, really good links and up-to-date information.
www.about.com/health

Nice, easy to use site with useful, commonsense information. It has a good section on women's health.
www.bbc.co.uk/health
 

Healing from sexual abuse
A site focusing on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; a common issue for those who have been sexually abused.
http://www.ncptsd.va.gov

Advice from someone who has been there
http://geocities.com/HotSprings/1035/

A supportive and powerful site. Lots of personal stories from survivors.
http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Abuse/Site/

Excellent range of links to sites about sexual abuse
http://incestabuse.about.com/mlibrary.htm

More good links to sites about sexual abuse
http://incestabuse.about.com/cs/incestrecovery/index.htm

Web site of the Christchurch Sexual Abuse Centre
http://www.sexualabuse.co.nz
 

Girls and young women
Great site for young women aged 12 - 22. Covers everything from relationships and contraception, to sexual health issues and lesbian health. Wish we had had something like this when we were that age. If you click on the "Health info" and "Health professionals" tabs at the top of the home page you will get to some great information
www.youngwomenshealth.org

Great general site for youth. Lots of fun stuff. Has a page to put your art/writings on the site
http://www.urge.co.nz

Good general site for youth. Covers health, entertainment, study, fashion etc.
http://library.christchurch.org.nz/Pulse/index.asp

Site designed by young women for young women. Caring, warm and inspirational
http://www.girlhealth.org

Designed for girls aged 10 – 16. Easy site to get around and interesting range of topics
http://www.4girls.gov/
 

Alternative health 
The "Health and wellness" tab on the left hand side of the home page will take you to some excellent health resources.
alternativemedicine.com

Huge range of information on this site on staying well and dealing with specific health issues
healthy.net

Extensive range of information about different conditions and the treatment for them
lef.org

Great, easy to use site with heaps of information on a wide range of topics. It also has a good up-to-date links page.
www.altmedicine.com

This is an easy to use health site, with an excellent section on using food to heal. This site also contains some awesome recipes. The healing centre page is also well worth checking out.
www.wholehealthmd.com

This is a good health site with a lot of information on different types of alternative therapies.
www.healingpeople.com

This is a comprehensive, easy to use site. Well worth a look. 
www.internethealthlibrary.com

Updated October 2006