Transvaginal (pelvic) mesh

Information on this page:

Over the past two decades there has been a rise in the prevalence and severity of problems attributed to transvaginal (pelvic) mesh implants.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, in consultation with key stakeholders, has examined the safety and clinical aspects of the use of transvaginal mesh products for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence and supports the subsequent Senate Community Affairs Reference Committee: Transvaginal Mesh 2018 recommendation: to stop the use of transvaginal mesh products that are solely used for the treatment of most pelvic organ prolapse.

Around 8 to 15% of transvaginal mesh procedures will have a complication, of which most are minor or temporary. However, some women have experienced severe complications, with some presenting with complications several years after the procedure.

In December 2017, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration removed from the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods mesh products that were solely used for the treatment of most pelvic organ prolapse (such as bladder, bowel or uterine prolapse) via transvaginal implantation.

SA Health has opened a multidisciplinary Pelvic Mesh Clinic at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, providing comprehensive health care for women experiencing major complications related to pelvic mesh implants.

A clinical referral pathway (PDF 75KB) and medical officer referral form have been developed to support clinician referral to the Pelvic Mesh Clinic. Referrals must be submitted using the designated Pelvic Mesh Referral Assessment Forms (available below).

The Pelvic Mesh Consumer Support Line: 1800 66 MESH (1800 666 374) remains in operation between 9am - 4pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).

Further information and resources

The following information has been produced by the Australian Commission of Safety and Quality in Health Care:

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SA Health Pelvic Mesh Clinic

SA Health has established a dedicated Pelvic Mesh Clinic at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and a clinical referral pathway providing comprehensive multidisciplinary health care for women experiencing major complications related to pelvic mesh implants.

The multidisciplinary service is led by specialist Urogynaecologists / Gynaecologists with ready access to support from: 

  • Urologists
  • Urogynaecologists
  • Colorectal surgeons
  • Specialist continence nurses
  • Physiotherapists with an advanced skill level in the pelvic floor medicine
  • Diagnostic services
  • Pain specialists
  • Psychology services
  • Psychiatrists.

At the clinic, all women are assisted by a triage nurse who will discuss treatment and care options, help coordinate appointments and provide connection to support services. The triage nurse also communicates directly with all clinicians involved to ensure seamless care and management during treatment.

The Pelvic Mesh Clinic is also able to provide access to other allied health services, such as occupational health, social work, and plastic surgery as required.

As treatment will be individualised, not every woman will need to see all members of the multidisciplinary team.

The team will continue to work together along each woman’s journey.

All patients require a valid medical officer referral prior to receiving treatment at the Pelvic Mesh Clinic.

Referrals must be submitted in writing using the designated form and should contain the required minimum information to ensure timely and appropriate decision making.

The information in the referral will be reviewed to determine the clinical urgency of the patient’s condition. All appointments will be scheduled based on the patient’s clinical need.

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Patient Referral forms

Please complete a referral form, using one of the options below. The form must be completed and signed by the referring Medical Practitioner and faxed to the Pelvic Mesh Clinic for processing.

Right click on the template required, and select and ‘Save Target As’. Save the template to a folder or to the computer desktop.

SA Health (generic) referral form

Patient referral to SA Health Pelvic Mesh Clinic (PDF)

For referring practitioners who do not have a practice software package. Please complete by hand and fax it and all accompanying documentation to the Pelvic Mesh Clinic.

The below referral templates must not be opened from the website. Opening a template before it is installed into practice software package will damage automated links within the template.

Best Practice referral form

Best Practice Medical softwarePatient referral to SA Health Pelvic Mesh Clinic (Best Practice) (RTF 162KB) - The template must be opened after import into Best Practice software.

Medical Director referral form

Medical Director softwarePatient referral to SA Health Pelvic Mesh Clinic (Medical Director) (RTF 138KB) - The template must be opened after import into Medical Director software.

Zedmed referral form

ZedMed medical softwarePatient referral to SA Health Pelvic Mesh Clinic (Zedmed) (RTF 201KB) - The template must be opened after import into Zedmed software.

Medtech referral form

Patient referral to SA Health Pelvic Mesh Clinic (MedTech) (ZIP 97KB) - The template must be opened after import into MedTech software.

MedTech Instructions:

  1. Download and Save the MedTech ZIP file from the link above
  2. Extract the SA Health Pelvic Mesh Patient Referral.mtd file to your computer
  3. Within the MedTech software: Click on Setup menu and then choose In/Outbox->Outbox Document
  4. Click on the Actions button then choose the Import Disk option (Medtech Evolution) Alternatively, click on the Outbox Document menu and choose Import Disk (Medtech32)
  5. Click OK when you see the Insert Diskette popup window
  6. Browse to where you have saved the SA Health Pelvic Mesh Patient Referral.mtd file
  7. Click on the Open button

The new Outbox document called SA Health Pelvic Mesh Patient Referral is now listed in your outbox document template list.