Kāpiti Women’s Health Services
We offer a comprehensive range of services to support female health and wellbeing. Led by specialist GP Dr Alice Zwart, the clinic provides personalised consultations covering:
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Hormonal changes in mid-life can upset the balance for many women. Common symptoms include mood changes, anxiety, poor sleep, insomnia, joint pains and vaginal dryness to name a few. Dr Zwart can help you make sense of these changes and talk through the range of options available to help you with this transition.
Perhaps you have other health conditions that may impact on the choices available or a family history of concern, or perhaps you are some time past menopause and want to know what the risks and benefits are for you.
Over a 45 minute consultation we look at how lifestyle choices can impact on health, the use of medications - both non-hormonal and menopause hormone therapy (MHT). We also cover other key health topics in mid-life such as heart, bone and brain health.
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An imbalance of hormones or a sensitivity to hormones play a role in conditions such as Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Dr Zwart can talk through the range of options available- both natural and hormonal - to minimise the impact of these hormonal challenges on your day to day life.
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Taking into account your preferences , age and medical history we can discuss the range of contraception options available. This includes prescription of the oral contraceptive pills, administration of Depo Provera and both insertion and removal of Jadelle implants.
Dr Zwart also offers insertion and removals of Mirena, Jaydess and Copper IUDs. This can be done with additional pain relief in the form of a cervical block where local anaesthetic is used. This can be done at patient request or if you have had a difficult insertion prior.
Dr Zwart is also trained in removal of stringless IUDs which require a cervical block.
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Heavy and painful periods, irregular bleeding, bleeding after sex or after the menopause. These symptoms are important to get checked out. Not only because they can impact significantly on your quality of life, but it is also important you are examined and investigated to make sure there is nothing of concern going on. This may include updating a smear, ruling out sexually transmitted infections and ordering a pelvic scan.
Dr Zwart is also trained to take endometrial biopsies (pipelles) to aid in investigation.
Treatment options such as Mirena’s can be initiated or referral onwards to a gynaecologist if further surgical interventions are indicated.
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If you are experiencing a dragging, heavy feeling in the pelvis, a lump in the vagina, leakage of urine when you cough/sneeze or can’t get to the toilet in time or trouble emptying your bowels, you may have a prolapse. 1 in 2 women experience prolapse over their lifetime but many don’t know there are successful ways to manage it.
Dr Zwart will take a full history of bowel and bladder function, perform an examination and discuss the appropriate treatment options include fitting of ring and incontinence pessaries, referrals to pelvic physiotherapists and incontinence nurses and/or urogynaecologists.
Where appropriate, ACC claims for Pelvic Mesh Treatment Injury can also be initiated.
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If you’ve recently experienced pregnancy and childbirth you may be experiencing troubles with your bowel and bladder function or returning to intimacy.
An examination and advice on pelvic floor and perineal issues is available, including initiation of ACC claims for Maternal Birth Injury if applicable and referral to health providers such as physiotherapists.
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Often felt but not talked about – vulval and vaginal symptoms can be distressing and difficult to manage. Common symptoms include itch, dryness, pain, discharge and skin splitting.
Dr Zwart will take a full history including previous treatments tried and perform an examination. A vulval skin biopsy can also be done to help aid diagnosis if appropriate.
Dr Zwart is confident in managing conditions such as vulval dermatitis, chronic candidiasis, lichen sclerosis, the genitourinary syndrome of menopause and recurrent bacterial vaginosis.
Referral onwards to a specialist sexual health physician can also be facilitated.
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If you are considering starting a family or having trouble conceiving, we can talk about ways to boost your fertility and carry out initial investigations to help rule out underlying causes that might be impacting on your fertility.
If appropriate and desired, we can initiate a referral to public and private fertility clinics.
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We offer screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. If you are struggling with low libido or painful intercourse, Dr Zwart offers a sensitive approach to this difficult topic and can work through with you the range of options including medication, pelvic physiotherapy and sex therapy to improve your sexual function.
Consultation Details
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Up to 45 minutes in length (extended 60 min consults also available)
As a specialist women’s health clinic, we often see patients with complex histories who may have seen many providers before.
An extended consultation ensures Dr. Zwart has enough time to understand your experience, conduct any relevant examinations, order tests, discuss treatment, and plan follow-up care.
New appointments cover:
Perimenopause and Menopause
Pelvic pain
Abnormal bleeding
Incontinence/Prolapse
Vulval pain/itch
Recurrent vaginal discharge
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Fertility
Each of these issues requires a full consultation to address; if you have multiple concerns it is best to start with an extended 60 minute initial appointment.
Follow-up appointments are also often required in this scenario.
Consultations available:
in-person at Paraparaumu Medical Centre
Online via video or phone.
Before your appointment:
A secure online questionnaire gathers key medical history and symptoms to optimize consultation time
After your appointment you may receive:
Prescriptions (if needed)
Information and resources
A consultation summary for your GP (with consent)
Additional charges apply for:
Consumables (if a physical examination is undertaken)
Referral letters to specialists
Ordering and following up on tests such as Mammograms, DEXA’s and ultrasounds
Follow up phone calls, depending on time taken
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Follow-up appointments are only available to existing Kapiti Women’s Health patients, to address previously discussed issues.
These can be in person at Paraparaumu Medical Centre or online via video or phone.
Our standard follow up appointment is up to 30 minutes in length. Most people benefit from at least 1 or 2 follow up appointments. This time allows patients the space to discuss their concerns, ask questions and also allows Dr Zwart time to review results, make recommendations on medication changes and put together a plan.
New issues require a new patient appointment.
A brief 15-minute follow-up is available for stable conditions (e.g, well established MHT users with no new concerns). If a 15 minute consultation exceeds this time, then a 30 minute appointment fee will be charged.
Annual review: if you have not been seen for a year and it is time for your annual review of ongoing medication, then a 30 min consultation is required.
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If you have any questions, these can be sent to hello@kapitiwomenshealth.co.nz
There is a charge for email advice depending on the time taken, This is charged at $40 per 5 mins.
If it is more appropriate that your concern be addressed in a consultation then a follow up appointment will be required.
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If you are a patient at KWH you can request a prescription online if you have been seen in the last 12 months and your condition is stable. The cost of this is $35.
If you have not been seen within 12 months for an existing medication, you will need to book an annual review appointment of up to 30 minutes.
Please allow 3 working days for prescriptions to be sent to the pharmacy.
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If you need to cancel or rearrange your appointment, please provide us with at least 48 hours notice.
Pre-paid new patient appointments:
If you cancel within 48 hours of the appointment time or do not attend your appointment, you will not be eligible for a refund, regardless of the reason, unless we are able to rebook your appointment. This fee compensates for the time reserved and resources allocated to your appointment.
If you cancel your appointment at least 48 hours in advance, we offer a refund of the amount paid less a $40 administration fee. This is to cover the administrative time and because we are charged fees by the third party provider who handles our payments.
Please email us at hello@kapitiwomenshealth.co.nz with your name, appointment date and time to cancel your booking. We will require a bank account name and number for the refund and this may take up to three business days to process.
If you reschedule your appointment with less than 48 hours notice there is a $40 administration fee in addition to your consultation fee. If you reschedule at least 48 hours in advance there is no additional fee.
Pay on the day appointments:
If cancellations are made within 48 hours of your appointment time and a replacement cannot be found , or if you do not attend your appointment, there will be a charge of 50% of your consultation fee.
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Our practice uses an AI-powered medical scribe assistant that securely records clinical conversations to generate accurate notes and letters.
This allows Dr Zwart to focus more on your care and less on typing, ensuring a personalised and well-documented consultation.