Northern Beaches Sexual Health Hub

As the weather cools down and respiratory illnesses such as COVID, influenza and the common cold ramp up, protecting our immune system becomes a high priority for most adults and their families. As a clinical naturopath, one of the most common questions I get asked in the cooler months is "How do I improve my immune system?" The answer always differs from person to person. Putting the enormous complexity of the immune system aside, there are countless things we can do to protect our health on a daily basis including:

The addition of strain specific probiotics and prebiotics
Consuming food rich in Vitamin C and Zinc
Boosting Vitamin D with safe levels of sunlight

A common mistake I see in clinical practice is people going overboard with the self prescription of supplements whilst neglecting to determine the root cause of why their immune system is compromised. Supplementation works wonders for acute illnesses, but what is often neglected is the importance of lifestyle, the nervous system, gut health and nutritional factors for overall immune function.

Humans have trillions of bacteria, fungi and archaea residing within the digestive system known as the microbiome. This provides us with huge advantages in many aspects of health including the immune system, with over 70% of the immune system residing in the gut.

Unfortunately our modern lifestyle often includes incorrect diet, packaged and refined foods, poor sleep, pesticide use, antibiotic use and an increase in day to day stress. It is these factors which change the composition of the microbiome and often favour more sinister strains of bacteria which weaken the immune system. This leads to inflammation and imbalances of the gut microbiome as well as a loss of integrity in the lining which can dramatically reduce immune function.

One of the fundamental principles of naturopathic medicine is to remove obstacles to cure. Unfortunately, a large proportion of the population fail to acknowledge the impact our lifestyle choices have on our immune system and aim to supplement a compromised immune system which will only help so much. This is where working with a health practitioner can be of benefit. Thorough case taking and functional testing, including complete microbiome testing, can give enormous insights into a person’s immune and digestive systems which helps a practitioner to give a more targeted approach to treatment and help peel back the layers and address the route cause of illnesses.

Speak to one of our Naturopaths today to get your immune system on track. At our Integrative Health Clinic, we offer acute consultations for immune health, standard naturopathic consults and combined doctor and naturopathic consultations.

Period Health

Period Health issues include irregular periods, absent periods, painful periods, heavy periods, and specific conditions such as endometriosis and PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). We take a holistic look at hormone balance, inflammation, nutrition and metabolic health to improve your symptoms and optimise total body health.

Hormonal Health and Menopause

Perimenopause is a sequence of hormonal changes where levels of progesterone and oestrogen decrease until menopause occurs one year after your final period. The average age of menopause in Australia is 51, perimenopause (the years leading up to menopause) can take anything between 2-10 years, and some people will experience a more abrupt menopause as a result of surgical or medical treatment. During peri-menopause, fluctuating hormone levels can cause significant symptoms for many people. Fluctuating hormone levels can cause significant symptoms for many people and peri-menopause and menopause can also unmask or trigger underlying health conditions. Symptoms of perimenopause can be treated with lifestyle, nutrition and hormonal therapy, and there is no better time to optimise hormonal, metabolic and general health than in our perimenopausal and menopausal years. The Japanese word for menopause, Konenki, means ' renewal of life', and this is a beautiful way of viewing our midlife years - a time to celebrate and nurture our wisdom and longevity.

Vaginal Health

Our vaginas deserve our love and good health! Conditions such as recurrent vaginal discharge, yeast infections, bacterial imbalances, vaginal dryness or pain can be treated with lifestyle, nutrition, awareness of hormonal health and targeted therapies.

Sexual Function

Reduced sexual function can affect people in different ways. People may experience low libido and desire, reduced or absent arousal, difficulty obtaining or maintaining penile erections, reduced vaginal lubrication, reduced enjoyment during sex, pain with sex, reduced or absent orgasms. We will take the time to listen and explore the reasons for reduced sexual function and work holistically to optimise your sexual health.

Living with HIV

People living withHIV who are on effective treatment are expected to live long and healthy lives. We will help you thrive through optimisation of metabolic and overall health using an integrative medicine approach alongside S100-prescribed antiretroviral medications.

Living with Herpes

Herpes simplex virus (the virus that causes coldsores and genital herpes) is a virus that can cause recurrent symptoms. Antiviral medications can help with symptoms when they arise, and are sometimes used to suppress symptoms recurrence. We can also optimise immunity and inflammation using an integrative medicine approach, lifestyle and nutrition.

At our Integrative Health Clinic, we offer consultations for sexual health by leading Physician (Sexual Health), Dr Ros Foster. Dr Ros Foster is available for appointments on Thursdays.
To make an appointment, book online below.

About Physician (Sexual Health), Dr Ros Foster

With over 20 years experience working as a specialist physician, Dr Ros Foster is passionate about enabling patients to optimise their long-term health. She practices a compassionate and holistic model of individualised, high quality and evidence-informed patient care and is a specialist physician in sexual health. To read more about her profile, click here.