Authors' conclusions:  There is no evidence to suggest that spinal manipulation is effective in the treatment of dysmenorrhoea

Authors' conclusions:  High-frequency TENS was found to be effective for the treatment of dysmenorrhoea by a number of small trials

The cause of endometriosis is not entirely clear. The dominant theory is that during menstruation, menstrual tissue (comparable to lining in the womb) passes back through the fallopian tubes and into the pelvis, where it attaches and grows.

The word menopause refers to the last or final menstrual period. When a woman has had no periods for 12 consecutive months, she is considered to be postmenopausal. At menopause, loss of ovarian follicles, follicular development and ovulation results in cessation of cyclical oestrogen and progesterone production.

Menopause marks the permanent end to a person’s menstrual cycle. It usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 (with an average age of 51). A person is considered to be postmenopausal after 12 consecutive months without experiencing a period.

The term headache refers to any pain in the head, face or neck area. Headaches are an extremely varied and common symptom of many conditions. In fact, about 15 per cent of Australians are estimated to be taking medication for a headache at any given time.

Medical abortion is a safe alternative to surgical abortion in early pregnancy.

Heavy menstrual bleeding is defined by the ACSQHC as 'excessive menstrual blood loss which interferes with the woman's physical, emotional, social and material quality of life, and which can occur alone or in combination with other symptoms'. It is the most common type of abnormal uterine bleeding.

The test is looking for the presence of Trichomonas vaginalis.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is an indirect measure of the degree of inflammation present in the body. It measures the rate of fall (sedimentation) o