It was a historic moment for Australia... as Western Australia became the last state in the country to decriminalise abortion in March this year. The federal government also committed just over $6 million dollars in funding to contraceptive care in the May budget.
But there are still barriers around accessing safe and affordable sexual and reproductive health care for women and the LGBTQI+ community.“It's that absolutely unconscious bias around First Nations women accessing abortion services. It's like do not judge women who are sitting in front of you, asking for support.”
In this episode of 'Hysterical', we look at the ongoing obstacles confronting women and LGBTQI+ people accessing sexual and reproductive health care in Australia. “I felt really lost and isolated and angry and, yeah definitely angry. I didn't see my experience reflected anywhere. And I was also pissed off because I'm a white, cisgendered educated middle class woman. All the things that mean you have good access to abortion were ticked, but my experience was still shit.
She says Aboriginal women in the south coast confront barriers of access and affordability around abortions. Melanie says there's been many instances where terminations haven't proceeded or Aboriginal women haven't been appropriately informed.“Will they follow up with their bloods and their ultrasounds after they have their medical termination? Will they call emergency? Will they do this? Do they ask every other woman about that? I don't think they do. So it's that unconscious, absolutely unconscious bias around First Nations women accessing abortion services.
But the longer people delay this choice, the more expensive an abortion can cost as the procedure becomes more complex.Ms Corbin says for women removed from their communities, like refugees or asylum seekers, there are a number of added barriers and layers of discrimination to confront that minimise choice following an unplanned pregnancy.
“And of course, it's not only refugee women, it's international students that come here who are women. I do understand a lot of people in our community that can't access the mainstream health system, so on the Women's Health Advisory Council, I have made absolutely certain that those groups are well represented. We have some wonderful women who are advocating for them. We'll be looking very seriously at how we can really increase access.
“ A lot of people who come to our groups haven't told barely anyone about their experience, which is surprising in a way, given that we are in a pro-choice country and all that kind of thing. But yeah, I think the stigma and the shame prevails and it is silencing, which is isolating.
The changes will be rolled out from July 1 next year, and will also cover conditions such as chronic pelvic pain and polycystic ovary syndrome ]. “Actually the rebate for that is very low. It's something like $75, whereas if a man was to go and get a vasectomy, which is similar procedure, it takes similar amount of time, sometimes can take less time. That rebate is somewhere around 200 plus dollars. So there's a huge difference between what we are treating for women's contraception versus men's contraception, I guess is the best comparison to put it as.
Professor Mazza says this is essential because procedures like an ultrasound are vital due to the vast information they can provide. “One of the main barriers is financial costs associated with contraceptive options, but another biggest barrier is lack of information in language for migrant and refugee women. So they can make the choice about what contraception is suited to them and what they would like to actually use. So I think that piece around lack of information in language is really important as well as that cost barrier.
“The gender services themselves, the doctor that they had me seeing knew that I was asexual, and he's like, well, we don't have to do the STI checks. And I'm like, why? And he's like, because you're asexual. And I'm like, yeah, that deals with emotions and not sex. And he just looked at me stunned.” “I'm very careful to use bias. I think what we're dealing with is a healthcare system that has a lack of experience with dealing with the LBGTQ across the board, right? So what I will say is that I think it was about poor processes, poor policies, right? I think this is about a lack of awareness, a lack of education, a lack of understanding. And what that is a reflection of is the oppressive nature that we have experienced as a community.
This has prevented LGBTQI+ couples from accessing Medicare rebates for IVF, as they were classified as 'untested fertility' rather than 'infertility'. Ashley Scott says it's clear from working with other LGBT parents that systemic barriers present an issue when starting a family.
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