Uterine fibroids are benign (noncancerous) tumours that develop in the uterus and are a common condition affecting a significant proportion of women during their child-bearing, i.e. reproductive years.
Uterine fibroids are benign (noncancerous) tumours that develop in the uterus and are a common condition affecting a significant proportion of women during their child-bearing, i.e. reproductive years.
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a condition where one or more organs in the pelvis, such as the bladder, uterus (or vaginal vault, in women with previous hysterectomy), or rectum, […]
The vulva is the external part of the female genitalia, and its primary functions are related to reproduction and sexual pleasure.
The menstrual cycle, also known as menstruation or periods, occurs when there is shedding of the uterus lining
As a woman, particularly those 25 and older who are sexually active, it is our basic responsibility to take care of our cervical health.
Pregnancy is a unique time characterised by various physiological changes within your body.
As its name suggests, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) replaces the hormones that decline during the perimenopausal and menopausal periods.
This article will discuss what constitutes a high-risk pregnancy and the factors behind it.
What is birth control and how do they work? The myriad of birth control methods can sometimes prove confusing for many especially when considering different lifestyle factors.
Exercise is vital for a healthy life, pregnancy is no exception. Exercise can help maintain or improve your body’s strength, flexibility, and even boost your mood (which might be a […]
What are pelvic floor disorders? Pelvic floor disorders are a group of conditions that affect the muscles, ligaments, nerves and connective tissue in the pelvic region. These disorders can affect […]
What is gestational diabetes? Gestational diabetes mellitus, or GDM for short, is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy and typically diagnosed during the 2nd half of your pregnancy […]
What is a UTI? A urinary tract infection, or UTI for short, refers to an infection that can occur in any part of the urinary system – this includes the […]
Vaginal laxity is a poorly understood symptom of pelvic floor dysfunction, yet comes with a significant degree of bother for women with potential impact on interpersonal relationships and sexual intercourse. […]
In the past, it used to be that women only visited their gynaecologist when they got pregnant, as they needed antenatal care for their pregnancies. As women get more educated […]
In this article, we’ll discuss: The link between cervical cancer and the human papilloma virus (HPV) The types of HPV vaccinations available in Singapore (including subsidies) Why younger females are […]
Most women experience irregular periods at the start and towards the end of their reproductive lifespan; some women continue to have irregular periods throughout the majority of their menstruating lives. […]
What is HPV? HPV is short form for human papillomavirus, which is a common viral infection that will infect most people in their lifetimes. It is transmitted through intimate contact […]
What is endometriosis? Endometriosis is a condition whereby tissue that lines your uterine cavity grows outside the cavity in locations such as the fallopian tubes, ovaries, bowels and abdominal cavity. […]
What is postpartum depression? According to the American Psychiatric Association, up to 1 in 7 women may experience postpartum depression; unlike baby blues, it doesn’t usually go away on its […]
It’s approaching the time of the month again – and you are starting to feel the familiar yet dreaded menstrual cramps in your lower abdomen. You look around at the […]
Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common condition affecting millions of men and women worldwide, and occurs when one leaks urine involuntarily. There are several types of urinary incontinence, namely: 1. […]
Uterine fibroids are benign (non-cancerous) growths of the uterus that are commonly found in women of reproductive age. A study published in the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics[1] showed […]
In a ground-breaking White Paper on Women’s Development released on 28th March 2022, the Singapore government has announced that women aged 21 to 35 will soon be able to opt […]
Your due date is coming up and it is time to get ready – when and what should you be packing in your hospital bag? We have come out with […]
Why does swelling happen during pregnancy? What is considered “normal”? Swelling is otherwise known as “oedema”, which usually peaks in the third trimester as the pregnancy belly grows to its […]
What are Bartholin glands or cysts? They are a pair of small glands located just at the entrance of your vagina. They cannot be seen or felt unless swollen or […]
Is it true that the COVID-19 vaccine can affect fertility? In December 2020, Dr Wolfgang Wodarg, a German physician who previously downplayed the severity of COVID-19 pandemic, petitioned the European […]
What is premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)? POI is also known as premature ovarian failure or premature menopause. Menopause (where you stop having periods and being fertile) usually occurs around the […]
Should I breastfeed? This is a personal decision. You can choose to either breastfeed or bottle-feed exclusively, or a combination of both at different proportion or times. It is entirely […]
What is time-lapse monitoring, and what is its benefit? During embryo development in the lab, embryologists must check the embryos’ progress and quality before picking the best ones to be […]
What is the difference between Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) and Pre-Implantation Screening (PGS)? These are both pre-implantation genetics tests (PGT) done on the embryo before embryo transfer. The embryos are […]
What is OHSS? OHSS is a potentially serious complication from fertility treatment, where there is an excessive response to ovarian stimulation medications during in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). Rarely, this can occur after ovulation induction. […]
What is ICSI? ICSI is when a single healthy sperm is injected into a good quality egg. When is ICSI needed? There are some reasons why ICSI may be recommended […]
I am going for embryo transfer for my IVF. What should I expect? You will have been contacted for an embryo transfer. Prior to the transfer, your gynaecologist will discuss […]
What is Embryo Freezing? Embryo freezing (EF) is where embryos obtained from in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) are frozen and kept for later use. This is different from egg freezing, where eggs harvested from […]
I am going for egg collection for my IVF. What should I expect? You will be scheduled for egg collection approximately 36 hours after your injection to trigger egg maturation. […]
What is assisted hatching? This is an additional procedure that some couples undergoing in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) may require. Embryos are surrounded by a hard “shell” which is made up of an outer […]
Artificial insemination, or intrauterine insemination (IUI), involves putting washed and concentrated sperm directly inside the uterine cavity around the time that ovulation is expected. This is to increase your chances […]
What does a semen analysis check? There are 3 main things that a semen analysis checks: Sperm count Sperm motility (movement) Sperm morphology (appearance/shape) Why is a semen analysis needed? […]
Ovulation occurs 36-40 hours after a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH). Knowing when you are ovulating allows you to time your sex during your fertile period to maximise your chances […]
Ovulation induction is the use of oral medications or injections to induce ovulation. It is typically used for women who do not ovulate (anovulatory) or ovulate irregularly resulting in infertility, […]
Ovarian reserve refers to a woman’s fertility potential. Every woman is born with a fixed number of eggs. Both the number and quality of eggs decrease with age. Fertility begins to decline […]
What is a hysterosalpingogram (HSG)? This is an investigation that may be performed as part of your fertility work-up to check the shape of your uterine cavity and patency of your fallopian […]
What is hydrosalpinx? Hydrosalpinx is where the fallopian tube gets blocked and swollen with fluid. Every woman has 2 fallopian tubes (right and left) that are connected to the uterus. […]
What are uterine fibroids? These are non-cancerous growths that come from the muscle layer of the uterus. Fibroids are commonly found in women of reproductive age. They can be single or […]
How does age affect fertility? Age is the single biggest determinant of your chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy baby. Every woman is born with a fixed number […]
Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women in the reproductive age group. It is a condition where tissue from the uterine lining is found outside the uterus. These tissues continue to respond to […]
This article focuses on surgical treatment of endometriosis. Click here to find out about what endometriosis is, its symptoms and diagnosis. How is endometriosis treated? This depends on how severe your symptoms […]
Do I have PMS? PMS refers to physical and emotional symptoms that affect your life 2 weeks before your period comes. These usually improve when your period starts and generally […]
Why do I have bad menstrual cramps? Menstrual cramps are lower abdominal aches and pains which many women may experience just before or during their periods. The pain can extend […]
This article focuses on medical treatment of endometriosis. Click here to find out about what endometriosis is, its symptoms and diagnosis. How is endometriosis treated? This depends on how severe your symptoms […]
Is my period long? A normal period has bleeding that generally lasts between 3 to 7 days. Anything that goes beyond that is considered a prolonged period. What can cause […]
What is chronic pelvic pain? This refers to pain in the pelvis that lasts for 6 months or longer. In many cases there is no single cause for chronic pelvic […]
What is intermenstrual bleeding (IMB)? This is bleeding or spotting that occurs in between your periods. Most women may experience this at some point. Why am I experiencing bleeding in […]
Why do I have bleeding after sex? Bleeding after sex, or post-coital bleeding (PCB) can be fairly common, but should be checked out by a gynaecologist as it may be […]
What is postmenopausal bleeding (PMB)? This is bleeding or spotting that occurs after menopause. Menopause means that you have not had a period in a year or more. You should see your […]
What is Asherman’s syndrome? Asherman’s syndrome is a condition where there is scar tissue in the uterus or cervix. This causes the walls of the uterus to stuck together and […]
Osteoporosis is a condition where your bones become weak and easily fractured. Older women who have reached menopause are at higher risk of developing osteoporosis due to low estrogen levels. Read more […]
Osteoporosis is a condition where your bones become weak and easily fractured. Older women who have reached menopause are at higher risk of developing osteoporosis due to low estrogen levels. Most women do […]
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is used to treat symptoms of menopause, and is also prescribed for women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). It is important to note that the risks of HRT discussed here […]
It is an exciting time as you turn into a woman! Here are some of the gynaecological issues you should keep a look out for: Period issuesThese can be very […]
Your childbearing years form a large part of your life as a woman and it is important to maintain a clean slate of health during this time. Here are some […]
As you get older, regular gynaecological checks remain as important as they were in your younger years – be careful not to dismiss some early symptoms as signs of normal […]
What is human papillomavirus (HPV)? HPV is a common viral infection that will infect most people in their lifetimes, but usually clears up without need for treatment. It is transmitted […]
This article focuses on HPV vaccine. What is HPV? Human Papilloma Virus is a common viral infection that will infect most people in their lifetimes, but usually clears up […]
What is endometrial hyperplasia? This is a condition where the lining of the uterus becomes too thick. Although it is not cancer, it can progress to cancer of the uterus […]
Ovarian cancer is cancer arising from one or both of your ovaries. The majority of ovarian cancer arise in older women. 9 out of 10 cases are epithelial ovarian cancer, which […]
Endometrial cancer is cancer arising from the lining of the uterus. What are the risk factors for endometrial cancer? There are many risk factors for endometrial cancer, although not every […]
Cervical cancer is cancer arising from the neck of the womb. What are the risk factors for cervical cancer? The top reason for cervical cancer is persistent high risk human […]
What is a surgical evacuation of uterus? A surgical evacuation of the uterus involves dilation of the cervix (neck of womb) to allow a wash-out of the contents inside your […]
This article focuses on ovarian cystectomy. An ovarian cystectomy is a surgical procedure for the removal of one or more cysts from one or both ovaries. This is done under […]
This article focuses on myomectomy for uterine fibroids. What are uterine fibroids? Fibroids that are small, do not cause symptoms, or occur in a woman near to her menopause can usually […]
What is a laparoscopy? A laparoscopy (keyhole) is a minimally invasive surgery performed under general anaesthesia with a 1cm cut in the umbilicus and three to four 0.5cm cuts in the […]
What is a hysteroscopy? A hysteroscopy involves the insertion of a telescope camera through the cervix (neck of womb) into the uterus, with fluid instilled inside the uterus to open […]
What is a hysterectomy? A hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus with the cervix (total hysterectomy) or without the cervix (subtotal hysterectomy). This can be done abdominally or vaginally, […]
What is a D&C? A D&C involves dilation of the cervix (neck of womb) to allow a curettage (washing out, or scraping) of the uterine lining. This is usually a […]
The vagina has a self-cleaning system in the form of normal vaginal discharge. Using the wrong products or underwear may upset the delicate balance of natural vaginal organisms and irritate […]
Vaginal itch affects most women at some point of their lives. Majority of the time this is temporary and goes away on its own. Causes of vaginal itch include: Skin […]
Vaginal discharge is common and normal in most cases. Women of any age can get vaginal discharge. It is important to remember that the vagina (like the gut) has a […]
What is emergency birth control? Emergency birth control (or emergency contraception aka “morning after”) helps prevents pregnancy after you have had unprotected sex or if the birth control method that […]
This article focuses on female sterilization (tubal ligation). Sterilization is a permanent form of birth control that is irreversible. Female sterilization involves laparoscopic (key-hole) tubal ligation as a day surgery under general anaesthesia, where […]
What is sexually transmitted infections (STI)? STIs are infections spread through oral, vaginal, penile or anal sexual contact. These include: Chlamydia Gonorrhea Trichomonas Genital Herpes Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Hepatitis B […]
What is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)? PID is a condition where there is inflammation of a woman’s uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries, usually caused by an infection that spreads upwards […]
What is painful sex (dyspareunia)? This refers to pain felt in the pelvis or vagina during sex, which can sometimes last up to 24 hours afterwards. It is common but […]
This article is on intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD). What is an IUD? It is a small, inert, T-shaped device that is inserted into the uterus. It sits in the cavity […]
This article is on implanon. What is a contraceptive implant (implanon)? It is a soft plastic, thin, 4cm rod that is injected just underneath the skin of your inner arm […]
What is genital warts? Genital warts are small lumps that occur on or around the genitals. They are caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection, although most people with HPV either […]
An abortion involves terminating a pregnancy (TOP). This can be for various reasons and can only be performed by a licensed gynaecologist. Different countries have different regulations regarding TOP. In […]
Congratulations! You have reached the end of your pregnancy milestone – and many things are beginning! Here are 12 things you should look out for after you have delivered. Episiotomy/vaginal […]
What is postpartum haemorrhage (PPH)? It is normal to have significant bleeding during and after childbirth, which should reduce over time and stop in about 4-6 weeks. Postpartum haemorrhage is […]
Family planning and pregnancy spacing play a role in determining how close (or far apart) your children will be in terms of age gap. This is a personal decision that […]
What is VBAC? VBAC refers to vaginal birth after caesarean. What are the chances of successful VBAC after 1 C-section? 3 in 4 women with 1 previous C-section will have a successful […]
Vacuum or forceps delivery, otherwise known as operative or assisted vaginal birth, is when your gynaecologist assists your vaginal birth by using either a vacuum cup or forceps. 10% of […]
What is a third- or fourth degree tear? A third degree tear is a tear that involves the anal sphincter muscles. These control your ability to control your passage of […]
Meconium is the first poop of your baby. Babies usually pass this in the first hours or days of their life. In some cases, babies may pass meconium while they […]
What is an episiotomy? A mediolateral episiotomy is a cut made by a sterile scissors in your vagina when your baby’s head is about to be delivered. This cut is […]
Congratulations you are having twins (or maybe even more)! All’s good – right? Here’s what you need to know about having twins or multiple pregnancies. Are there different types of […]
Stretch marks commonly appear on your abdomen, upper thighs, buttock and breasts during pregnancy. Exactly when and where they appear varies between women. After childbirth, they may fade but will […]
A stillbirth is when baby dies after 24 weeks of pregnancy. 1 in 200 births are stillborn. What are the causes of stillbirth? In majority of cases, there is no […]
My gynae told me that I am having a small baby – what does that mean? At every stage of pregnancy, there is a weight and size estimation of the […]
What does having a short cervix mean? Your cervix refers to the neck of your womb. During your pregnancy, it is supposed to remain long, firm and closed. As your […]
What is PPROM? Preterm premature rupture of membranes refer to the breaking of your water bag before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Why has PPROM happened? In many cases, the cause […]
What is preterm labour? Preterm or premature labour refers to going into labour before 37 weeks of pregnancy. This can result in preterm or premature births. Premature babies can have problems […]
What is placenta abruption? This is a serious condition where the placenta prematurely separates from the uterus. It occurs more commonly in the third trimester. It can be potentially life-threatening […]
What is obstetric cholestasis? This is a liver condition in pregnancy which causes raised bile acids in your body. Bile acids are needed for digestion and absorption of fats and fat-soluble […]
What is a low-lying placenta/ placenta previa? This is when your placenta is near to (<2cm away), or covers part of/all of the cervix (neck of womb). Although common in […]
What is GBS? GBS, or Group B streptococcus, is a bacteria that is commonly present in the vagina and rectum in many women. It is not harmful under normal circumstances […]
Umbilical cord blood is rich in blood stem cells. During your third stage of labour, after the umbilical cord is cut, a small sterile needle is used to draw out […]
Bleeding during pregnancy can range from spotting (small amount of pink, red, or brown blood on your underwear, or when you use the toilet) to full-on bleeding (like your periods, […]
When will I start to feel my baby moving or baby kicks? “Quickening”, or the start of feeling your baby movements happens around 18 weeks of pregnancy – if you […]
What is recurrent miscarriages? Recurrent miscarriages is defined as having two or more miscarriages. 1% of women experience this. Current guidelines recommend that investigations are done after the third miscarriage, but […]
I’m over 35 years old and am pregnant. What do I need to be worried about? It is now very common for women to get pregnant for the first time […]
What is a miscarriage? A miscarriage refers to a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks. 85% of miscarriages are early. An early miscarriage is when a pregnancy is lost at 12 weeks or […]
What are uterine fibroids? These are non-cancerous growths that come from the muscle layer of the uterus which are commonly found in women of reproductive age. Fibroids can be single or […]
What is an ectopic pregnancy? An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus, most commonly in the fallopian tubes (90%). Rarely it can occur in the ovary, […]
What is pelvic organ prolapse (POP)? This refers to a drooping of the uterus, bladder or rectum beyond the vagina. It is more common in older women. The main cause […]
What is vaginal atrophy (atrophic vaginitis)? This is a condition where low estrogen causes thin, dry and inflamed vaginal skin. Vaginal atrophy is common in peri-menopause or menopause women. Some doctors term […]
What is a urinary tract infection (UTI)? A UTI is an infection of your urinary tract – this can involve anywhere from your kidneys, ureters (tubes connecting your kidneys and […]
What is topical vaginal estrogen? This is a low dose, local estrogen therapy that comes in the form of creams and tablets. These are applied and inserted into the vagina […]
What is pelvic organ prolapse? This refers to a drooping of the uterus, bladder or rectum beyond the vagina. It is more common in older women, affecting 1 in 3 […]
Kegel exercises are important in strengthening and maintaining your pelvic floor muscle tone. It is helpful in improving: Stress urinary incontinence Urge urinary incontinence Overactive bladder Pelvic organ prolapse Sexual […]
This article focuses on haematuria in women. Blood in the urine is known as haematuria. There are 2 types: microscopic (blood cells can only be seen under the microscope and) […]
Bladder training gets rids of bad habits and teaches your bladder good habits so you can get control over your bladder instead of the other way round. What can bladder […]
Bladder pain syndrome (previously known as interstitial cystitis) is the condition of bladder discomfort or pain associated with urinary symptoms which may include: Urinary urgency (feeling an urgent need to […]