Women’s Pain Inquiry Calls for Greater GP Training and Systemic Change
10 Nov 2025
The Bridging the Pain Gap report, released by the Victorian Government, drew on the experiences of more than 13,000 women and girls aged 12–79, as well as carers, clinicians and health organisations. It revealed widespread and long-term suffering, with over 90% of respondents reporting pain lasting more than a year and more than half living with pain daily.
The impact of this pain is far-reaching:
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89% reported effects on mental health
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59% said it limited recreation and hobbies
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52% said it affected intimate relationships
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44% said it interfered with work or study
The report makes 27 recommendations across seven key areas, including:
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Introducing ‘green whistle’ pain relief in all Victorian sexual and reproductive health hubs
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Developing a Women’s Pain Action Plan
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Establishing a children and adolescent pain clinic at the Royal Children’s Hospital
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Increasing funding for women’s health research
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Embedding women’s health in medical education
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Creating training resources and an advisory service for clinicians
The inquiry found that GPs are central to women’s pain care, with 91% of women saying their GP was their first point of contact. However, 70% of health professionals cited limited knowledge as a barrier to quality care, and 78% said more education and training would improve their ability to support patients.
Professor Danielle Mazza, Head of the Department of General Practice at Monash University and member of the Women’s Health Advisory Council, said the findings reflect a system that struggles to meet the needs of chronic pain patients.
“The kind of pain being discussed is long-term and complex, not something that can be addressed in a 15-minute appointment or an emergency department visit,” she told newsGP.
Professor Mazza said more GP training in women’s health and pain management is vital.
“It’s something we’ve been advocating for through the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health (SPHERE),” she said. “There’s less opportunity now for GPs to gain women’s health experience through hospital rotations, so that gap needs to be addressed.”
She also encouraged GPs to use chronic disease care plans for managing long-term pain conditions such as endometriosis and fibromyalgia, which are common but often overlooked.
The Victorian Government has committed to developing a Women’s Pain Action Plan within six months, in consultation with women across the state.
Source: Victorian Government, Bridging the Pain Gap: Inquiry into Women’s Pain, November 2025.
