New Zealand
Halt on surgical mesh operations set to last until at least mid-2025
Conditions for lifting the pause on mesh surgeries have not yet been met: Health Ministry.
Latest from In her head
Stories and analysis from The Northern Express Herald.
Surgical mesh - mother says implant 'like a grater', cripples her
A 35-year-old mum says she's been left crippled by surgical mesh implanted into her body allegedly without her informed consent. Video / Ben Carter
'It's like a grater on raw wounds': Mum, 35, says mesh implant cripples her
"It makes me incredibly angry. I mentioned my hesitancy to mesh..." 35-year-old mum tells.
'I thought my life was on the line': Young mum undergoes three surgeries after placenta left inside of her
'I was in extreme pain, it felt worse than when I was in labour'.
'We can be a voice for them': Green MP on 'heartbreaking' surgical mesh claims
MP's promise comes after Herald exposed investigation into claims women harmed by its use.
Focus: Merrissa Haa on her struggles with surgical mesh
Merrissa Haa, 47, is disabled after surgical mesh was inserted into her body without her consent. Video / Andrew Warner
'I've been robbed of my life': Patient says surgical mesh used without consent
"I used to be fun and outgoing ... now I live on eight Tramadol a day."
'Rotting' surgical mesh leaves woman without a bladder
Sally Walker shared her harrowing experience with the Herald.
Focus: Patient's surgical mesh 'rotting' inside of her
Sally Walker's insides were so badly damaged by surgical mesh that she was forced to get her bladder removed and her vagina sewn closed. Video / Dean Purcell
'I remember waking up screaming': Investigation into claims doctors harmed women with surgical mesh
Eight women say they never gave consent for surgical mesh to be implanted into their body.
'Sorry doesn't cut it': Mother's life destroyed by medical incompetence
Cindy Bridson says she's lucky to be alive.
In Her Head: Woman's life-threatening endometriosis delays
Paris' life-threatening endometriosis diagnosis and surgery delays, with wait times up to three years. Video / NZ Herald
In Her Head: Olympian Kirstie Klingenberg's struggle with endometriosis
Former Olympian Kirstie Klingenberg says she didn't speak up about her agonising pain for years out of fear her coaches would think she was weak. Video / NZ Herald
The broken public healthcare system leaving women in pain
One woman was told her pain was all in her head. It was - in fact it was a brain tumour.
'Like a dark blanket that covers your life': Depressed mum 'not critical enough' for support
"She looks at me and goes 'mummy do you not want me any more?'"
Surgical mesh: Report reveals restorative justice helpful for victims but action to protect others slow
The impact of the government's restorative justice for mesh has been examined.
Life-threatening endometriosis delays, surgery wait times up to three years
On average, women in NZ wait 8.7 years from onset symptoms to be formally diagnosed.
'We live in a man's world': NZ lags behind other countries in women's health
"When we look at systems of all sorts around the world we see inequality for women."
Doctors told her she was just overweight - turns out, she had ovarian cancer
'Something needs to change, you can't just push it away as women's problems.'
'Women let down by system': ACC pays out $27m to women harmed by health treatment
'There are so many areas that could be improved to better [women's] outcomes," GP says.
'Just part of being a woman': How our health system ignores and neglects female patients - and what can be done about it
'I kept thinking maybe I'm just being weak, maybe I just need to harden up...'
Women are calling out 'medical gaslighting'
New York Times: US studies show females more likely to have symptoms dismissed.
'I don't want to live my life in pain': Why Aleisha had a hysterectomy at age 22
"I didn't feel believed and felt like doctors thought I was over-exaggerating."
'I can't even walk properly': Mum's $30K loan for hysterectomy to end pain
Her pain was so bad she would regularly faint at work.