Talking O&G - a RANZCOG Podcast

In this episode of Talking O&G: a RANZCOG Podcast, host Dr Vijaya Karanam speaks to obstetrician Dr Penny Sheehan, consumer Yvonne Maringa, and midwife Deborah Pidd about the vital role informed consent plays in everyday clinical practice. 

They outline the fundamentals of the recently released signposting guideline Consent and provision of information to patients regarding proposed treatments (C-Gen 2). Dr Sheehan and Ms Pidd discuss the responsibilities of clinicians to ensure patients are informed, respected, and feel empowered to ask questions and engage in shared decision-making. They emphasise that consent is relational, not transactional, and establishing a relationship of trust is essential. 

Ms Maringa shares what good informed consent looks like and means to the patient, and how clinicians can help them to feel informed and safe even in high-pressure, time-sensitive situations.  

They all highlight the importance of patient-centred, culturally responsive, and individualised care as core aspects of embedding informed consent into practice.  

🔗 Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Consent and provision of information to patients regarding proposed treatment (C-Gen 2) Signposting Statement to National Guidance 

Safer Care Victoria: Respectful Maternity and Newborn Care Framework 

The Mothers on Respect (MOR) index: measuring quality, safety, and human rights in childbirth 

The Mother’s Autonomy in Decision Making (MADM) scale: Patient-led development and psychometric testing of a new instrument to evaluate experience of maternity care 

📌 RANZCOG members can submit CPD at: https://shorturl.at/iq733  

💬 If you found this episode valuable, please rate, review, subscribe, and share it with your colleagues. 

RANZCOG acknowledges the need for more inclusive terminology for gender diversity. In this podcast we aim to use inclusive language, and any use of the term “women” should be interpreted to include all people requiring gynaecological and obstetric care.   

The views expressed are those of the speakers and may not reflect the official position of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG).

In this episode of Talking O&G: a RANZCOG Podcast, host A/Prof Roshan Zeirideen Zaid speaks to Dr Keeth Mayakaduwage and Dr Penny Sheehan about the impacts and implementation of the Safer Baby Bundle, Australia’s national initiative to reduce the number of stillborn babies by 20%.  

Dr Mayakaduwage and Dr Sheehan outline the context of stillbirth in Australia and the targets of the Safer Baby Bundle. They examine the key components of the bundle, including its cultural adaptations for First Nations and migrant and refugee communities.  

Dr Mayakaduwage presents the central findings of an ANZJOG research series which examined the early impacts of the bundle in Victoria, on which he was lead author. Dr Sheehan shares her experience implementing the bundle in clinical practice and provides recommendations for clinicians wishing to strengthen its impact in their own jurisdictions.  

🔗 Resources mentioned in this episode: 

The Safer Baby Bundle 

Stronger Bubba Born 

Growing a Healthy Baby 

Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence eLearning Resources 

ANZJOG: Reducing Perinatal Mortality in Victoria, Australia: Early Insights from the Safer Baby Bundle Implementation 

ANZJOG: Impacts on Causes of Perinatal Death After Safer Baby Bundle Implementation in Victoria, Australia 

ANZJOG: Reach and Impact of the Safer Baby Bundle Among Groups Disproportionately Affected by Stillbirth in Victoria, Australia 

📌 RANZCOG members can submit CPD at: https://shorturl.at/iq733  

💬 If you found this episode valuable, please rate, review, subscribe, and share it with your colleagues. 

RANZCOG acknowledges the need for more inclusive terminology for gender diversity. In this podcast we aim to use inclusive language, and any use of the term “women” should be interpreted to include all people requiring gynaecological and obstetric care.   

The views expressed are those of the speakers and may not reflect the official position of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG).

In this episode of Talking O&G: a RANZCOG Podcast, host Dr Anna Clare speaks with Conj A/Prof Tania Day about gynaecologists' role in prevention of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma by identifying and treating vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) and distinguishing these from benign squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL). They unpack the recently published 2026 International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD) terminology guide, on which Conj A/Prof Day was lead author.  

The ISSVD terminology was last updated in 2015, and there have since been major advancements in the clinical understanding of VIN histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Dr Clare and Conj A/Prof Day examine these developments, outlining the new preferred terminology, as well as diagnosis, treatment, and follow up. They highlight the importance of consistent language to aid collective efforts in vulval cancer elimination.  

🔗 Resources mentioned in this episode: 

2026 International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD) terminology for vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia and squamous intraepithelial lesions 

📌 RANZCOG members can submit CPD at: https://shorturl.at/iq733  

💬 If you found this episode valuable, please rate, review, subscribe, and share it with your colleagues. 

RANZCOG acknowledges the need for more inclusive terminology for gender diversity. In this podcast we aim to use inclusive language, and any use of the term “women” should be interpreted to include all people requiring gynaecological and obstetric care.   

The views expressed are those of the speakers and may not reflect the official position of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG).

In this episode of Talking O&G: a RANZCOG Podcast, host A/Prof Scott White speaks to Dr Penny Sheehan about RANZCOG’s updated binational clinical guideline for Intrapartum Fetal Surveillance (C-Obs 1).  

They discuss recommendations for antenatal and intrapartum risk factors and models of care, cases involving fetal sepsis, the use of tocolysis in cases of prolonged deceleration, and more. They look at the evidence around alternative methods for fetal assessment, such as fetal scalp stimulation and fetal blood sampling, and new and emerging technologies.  

The broader process of the guideline development is also explored, including the implementation of the GRADE system to assess evidence, and the guiding principles of care addressed in the guideline. 

🔗 Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Intrapartum Fetal Surveillance (C-Obs 1) Clinical Guideline 

Respectful Maternity and Newborn Care Framework 

Fetal Surveillance Education Program (FSEP) 

📌 RANZCOG members can submit CPD at: https://shorturl.at/iq733  

💬 If you found this episode valuable, please rate, review, subscribe, and share it with your colleagues. 

RANZCOG acknowledges the need for more inclusive terminology for gender diversity. In this podcast we aim to use inclusive language, and any use of the term “women” should be interpreted to include all people requiring gynaecological and obstetric care.   

The views expressed are those of the speakers and may not reflect the official position of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG).

In this episode of Talking O&G: a RANZCOG Podcast, host Dr Heather Waterfall speaks with Dr Marilla Druitt about multidisciplinary management and treatment options for persistent pelvic pain.  

Pelvic pain affects one in five women in Australia and up to one in four women in Aotearoa New Zealand at some point in their life. Contributors are broad, and may include conditions such endometriosis or adenomyosis, antenatal or postpartum pain, or irritable bowel syndrome. 

Dr Waterfall and Dr Druitt address a range of treatment and prevention approaches, including hormonal treatment, physiotherapy, pain psychology, nutrition, and more. They highlight the biopsychosocial components of pelvic pain and its comorbidities and recommend a holistic approach to care. They also emphasise the importance of focusing on prevention, to reduce the potential development of severe pain. 

This episode was recorded in February 2026. Please refer to the PBS website for up-to-date information on medication availability and subsidies.  

🔗 Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Australian Living Evidence Guideline: Endometriosis  

Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia: Stretches, Strategies and Acupressure Guides 

Queensland Government Flowchart: Acute presentation of persistent pelvic pain 

Greene Climacteric Scale 

📌 RANZCOG members can submit CPD at: https://shorturl.at/iq733  

💬 If you found this episode valuable, please rate, review, subscribe, and share it with your colleagues. 

RANZCOG acknowledges the need for more inclusive terminology for gender diversity. In this podcast we aim to use inclusive language, and any use of the term “women” should be interpreted to include all people requiring gynaecological and obstetric care.   

The views expressed are those of the speakers and may not reflect the official position of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG).