On 15 February 2017, the Senate referred the following matter to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report:

The number of women in Australia who have had transvaginal mesh implants and related matters.

1. The number of women in Australia:
   1. who have had transvaginal mesh implants;
   2. who have had transvaginal mesh implants who have experienced adverse side effects; and
   3. who have made attempts to have the mesh removed in Australia or elsewhere.
2. Information provided to women prior to surgery about possible complications and side effects.
3. Information provided to doctors regarding transvaginal mesh implants and possible complications and side effects.
4. Any financial or other incentives provided to medical practitioners to use or promote transvaginal mesh implants.
5. The types and incidence of health problems experienced by women with transvaginal mesh implants and the impact these health problems have had on women’s lives.
6. The Therapeutic Goods Administration’s:
   1. role in investigating the suitability of the implants for use in Australia;
   2. role in ongoing monitoring of the suitability of the implants; and
   3. knowledge of women suffering with health problems after having transvaginal mesh implants.
7. Options available to women to have transvaginal mesh removed.

Submissions were sought by 31 May 2017. The reporting date is 30 November 2017. On 16 November 2017, the Senate granted an extension of time for reporting until 14 February 2018. On 14 February 2018, the Senate granted an extension of time for reporting until 20 March 2018.  The committee has agreed to seek an extension of time for reporting to 27 March 2018. The Senate will consider this request on 20 March 2018. On 20 March 2018, the Senate granted an extension of time for reporting until 27 March 2018.

The committee extended the date for submissions to the inquiry to 30 June 2017. The committee will continue to consider and accept submissions after this date. As a large number of submissions have been received for this inquiry, including many of a sensitive and personal nature, there may be a delay between a submission being provided and it being considered and approved for publication by the committee. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

You can ask the committee to keep your submission confidential. Include the word confidential clearly on the front of your submission. Confidential submissions are only read by members of the committee and the secretariat.

If you are interested in contributing to the committee’s inquiry, you may find it helpful to look at the guide for preparing a submission.

It includes suggestions on what to include in a submission, a check list, and information about what happens to your submission once it has been received by the committee.

The committee is unable to investigate or provide advice on individual circumstances. The committee’s focus is on the broad issues raised in the terms of reference for the inquiry.

If you have questions, or need more time to write your submission, contact the secretariat.