The Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital offers women an extensive range of health care resources to help navigate each of life's "passages."

Breast cancer screening. Mammography plays a major role in detecting breast cancer when it is small enough to be easily treated. That's why the American Cancer Society recommends that women over age 40 get a mammogram once per year.

Other tests. If a mammogram looks suspicious our doctors perform minimally invasive Mammotome core biopsies, which require a tiny incision. We do ultrasound studies to help detect breast cancer and other problems, as well as for women who are pregnant or who have gynaecological problems such as uterine fibroids. We also offer the diagnostic work sometimes needed for infertility, which can assist in pinpointing the cause of Urological problems, including incontinence.

Maternity Care. The staff at The Birthing Centre pampers new parents with warm, personalized service, attention to detail and plenty of old-fashioned TLC. The Birthing Centre is designed to provide a relaxed, home-like atmosphere. We offer several other specialized services for parents-to-be, including:
- Childbirth preparation classes including breast-feeding and baby care.
- Infant and child CPR
- Ante & Post natal Doula services
- Post Natal mother to mother support, e.g. Diapers and delirium
- Water births
- Lactation consultant services

HRT/Menopause. Menopause, defined as the cessation of menstruation for 12 consecutive months, represents many significant changes in a woman’s life. Estrogen loss produces many different effects on the body. The most common symptoms are hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, changes in libido and vaginal dryness. Bones tend to become thinner and weaker (osteoporosis) and can result in debilitating hip, wrist and spinal fractures. Estrogen loss also has an unfavourable effect on cholesterol levels resulting in a greater risk for heart disease.

An important decision at menopause is whether or not to use hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), refers to estrogen taken alone without a progestin and is usually given only to women who have had a hysterectomy. Progestin is usually taken with estrogen by women with a uterus to prevent excessive growth of the lining of the uterus.

The two most common regimens of HRT are “continuous combined” (estrogen and progestin taken every day) and “cyclic” (estrogen taken every day and progestin taken only for a certain number of days each month). Most studies have not shown a higher risk of breast cancer in women who have ever used estrogens. Your decision to take HRT can result in many health benefits. Talk to your doctor about risks and benefits and remember, women ages 40 and above should have periodic mammograms to check for early signs of breast cancer.

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