Women's Health and Contraception

Women's Health and Contraception
Doctors / Nursing Staff specialising in this area:

Dr. Geraldine Holland

Doctor

Dr. Geraldine Holland grew up in Shankill and graduated from Trinity College, Dublin in 1986. She started working at Carlton Clinic in 1990 and became a Partner in 1995.

While Geraldine enjoys all aspects of General Practice, over the years she has developed a special interest and a broad skill base in all areas of Women's Health. In particular, Geraldine has a special interest in longer lasting contraception (coils, injections and implants) and the management of period problems across all age groups. She helped set-up the GP led Mirena Clinics at the National Maternity and Rotunda hospitals. Geraldine is happy to accept referrals from local GPs to provide prompt treatment and avoid hospital referral if possible.

Geraldine is a former Assistant National Director of the ICGP (Irish College of General Practitioners) Women's Health Program, and a current Family Planning Tutor and LARC Tutor at ICGP. Geraldine has a keen interest in Teenage Health, Palliative Care and Asthma management.

Geraldine is mum to four daughters. She enjoys reading, walking and singing in her spare time.

Dr. Mairead Cassidy

Doctor

Dr Mairead Cassidy graduated from University College Galway in 1999. She completed her GP training with with Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin in 2006 and was also the highest achieving candidate in GP exams that year. She has worked in Ireland, the UK and Australia. 

She enjoys all aspects of General Practice & has a special interests in women's health, young people's and adolescent health - including contraception and sexual health screening, travel medicine and childhood development & illnesses. Over the years she has developed a special interest in palliative care and alongside her GP work also works in LauraLynn Childrens Hospice and disability service. 

Qualifications: MB BCh BAO, MICGP, Dip Child health,  Dip Paediatric Palliative care 

In her spare time she enjoys running, walking the dog and music.

Dr. Melanie Piercy

Doctor

Dr Melanie Piercy graduated from Bristol University Medical School in 1994. She completed her GP training with St George’s Hospital, London and subsequently moved to Ireland. Dr. Piercy joined the Carlton Clinic in 2005. Like her colleagues Melanie enjoys all aspects of family medicine but with a special interest in dermatology.

She is involved with the training of medical students within the practice.

Qualifications: MB ChB, DRCOG, DFFP, MRCGP, DPD.

 

Dr. Lisa Devine

Doctor

Dr Lisa Devine initially trained in hospital medicine, gaining her Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland before realising that her vocation lay in general practice. She trained as a GP and gained her Membership of the Irish College of General Practitioners of Ireland. She has postgraduate qualifications in palliative care, paediatrics, musculoskeletal medicine and diabetes, which has become her primary special interest. She enjoys representing the Irish General Practice point of view on regional and national diabetes and chronic disease management committees, in Ireland and internationally. She enjoys contributing to medical education via teaching in the practice, chairing and speaking at local and national conferences, and through tutoring and organisational roles on postgraduate educational programs. She writes a monthly Column for GPnotebook.

Our doctors and nurses carry out a variety of services especially tailored for women's needs at every stage in life including cervical smears, maternity care, health screening and skin problems.

Dr. Geraldine Holland, Dr Melanie Piercy, Dr. Eimear O'Hanlon, Dr Mairead Cassidy and Dr Lisa Devine offer specialist family planning services, including insertion and removal of long acting contraception.

Dr Melanie Piercy has a particular interest in skin problems and Dr. Eoin Spillane also offers expert skin care including treatment for acne, mole removal and skin tag removal.

More information about Health Screenings and Cervical Smear Screening below:

 

HEALTH SCREENINGS FOR WOMEN
 

CervicalCheck Smear Testing
The National Cervical Screening Programme is a Government-funded service that provides free smear tests to women aged 25-60. This has been introduced in Ireland in September 2008 and is available at Carlton Clinic.

What is cervical screening?
Cervical screening tests women for changes in the cells of the cervix (neck of the womb) by a smear test.

What is a smear test?
A smear test (sometimes called a pap test) is used for cervical screening. It is a simple procedure where a doctor or nurse (smeartaker) takes a sample of cells from the cervix to look for early changes. A smear test can identify cell changes before they become cancer cells. If these cells are not found and treated, they could become cancerous.

Why should I have this test?
Quite simply, having a regular smear test could save your life.

Who should have a smear test?
Every woman aged between 25 and 60 should have a regular smear test and continue to have regular smear tests after the menopause. If you are aged over 60 years and have never had a smear test, please contact your local doctor to discuss your cervical screening needs.

More information on Cervical Check Screening can be found at cervicalcheck.ie

Long-Acting Contraception

The most effective contraceptive methods are known as LARC (Long Acting Reversible or Longer Lasting Contraception).

These are highly effective methods, with very low failure rates as they are essentially “fit and forget” methods so no need for daily reminders. These methods are also highly cost effective, with no need for regular checks that might be needed with other methods.

Long Acting Reversible Contraceptive methods include:

  • Intra-uterine devices (also known as coils)

  • Implants (often referred to as ‘the bar’) – inserted under the skin in the upper arm

  • Injections, given every three months.

Intra-uterine devices (IUD) are small T-shaped plastic devices which are available in different sizes. They come with hormones or without hormones, the latter known as a copper coil. They act as a contraceptive device largely by preventing fertilization, with some other local effects.

The range of hormonal devices has recently expanded and we can now offer a wider choice of device to suit individual needs. These devices vary in the length of time they are effective for and can be chosen based on this requirement.  

The contraceptive implant is inserted under the skin of the upper arm. This device has the lowest dose of hormone of all hormonal methods of contraception. 

All of our female GPs are skilled in inserting and removing these devices. Dr Geraldine Holland is an IUD expert and is highly skilled in difficult removals of the IUD. She is happy to take referrals from other doctors saving the patient waiting for a hospital appointment, which may take many months.

If you are between 17-30 years of age, please click here for more information about the Free Contraception Scheme.