Senator Jacqui Lambie says old injuries from her army service caused her recent vaginal prolapse, accusing the government of ignoring the medical issues of servicewomen.

“About six months ago, my vagina started to prolapse,” the Tasmanian independent told the Senate on Wednesday.

“My vagina was collapsing, and three months later it was taking my bladder with it, because there is such limited access to gynaecologists in rural and regional areas like Tasmania.

“I was looking at waiting for months for an appointment — that’s in the private system in Tasmania — just to see a gynaecologist.”