In consultation with Dr Ida Ismail-Pratt
OBGYN specialist and Medical Director of The Obstetrics & Gynaecology Centre, Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre
No one likes a trip to the doctor, especially if you aren’t ill. So it’s no surprise that a trip to the gynaecologist suffers the same fate!
Additionally, the fact that it may be uncomfortable (both physically and mentally), embarrassing and just generally stressful provides even more of a turn-off for scheduling a visit!
Why the Gynaecologist
As women, our bodies and health undergo various changes, from puberty to menopause, during our lives. To navigate these stages, gynaecologists are our best source of advice and guidance.
So for overall health and well-being, it’s essential to pencil in regular checkups, even if you aren’t pregnant or trying to get pregnant, and have no pending issues.
Let’s dive in and see what questions you should ask to get the most out of your gynaecologist visit.
Question 1: How can I maintain good reproductive health?
A good question to start with is how to maintain good reproductive health, whatever stage of life you are at. Some key recommendations are to practise safe sex, even in a committed relationship.
Another point is to get regular screenings, as many of the issues that can arise for women are often symptomless (cervical cancer). The only way to detect them is through regular screenings and tests.
Additionally, if you’re having any issues, such as pain during sex or any discharge, it’s best to ask your doctor, however embarrassing or anxious you may feel. We guarantee there are no issues they haven’t heard about or encountered!
Question 2: What is the best birth control option for me?
If the pitter-patter of little feet isn’t something on the immediate horizon for you, then you should speak to your gynaecologist about how best to avoid ending up in a sticky situation!
Many different birth control methods are available today (over 15!), but not all are suitable for everyone. The more common methods include oral contraceptive (hormone) pills, injections, implants, IUDs (intrauterine devices), barrier methods (including condoms and diaphragms), natural methods and more permanent methods (tubal ligation and vasectomy).
What suits you best will differ depending on your needs, preferences, and health.
Whether you intend to have children or not, shortly or within a few years, will affect your choice of birth control. And the best person to clue you in is your gynaecologist.
Go in armed with what you want, and seek the advice you need.
Question 3: How often should I have a pelvic exam?
Don’t worry; this is one exam you don’t have to study for!
A pelvic exam is a routine examination of the female organs to check for signs of disease and illness. Your gynaecologist will perform an internal and external inspection of your uterus, cervix, vagina, fallopian tubes, ovaries, bladder, and rectum.
Sometimes, your doctor may conduct a PAP Smear to screen for cervical cancer. Your gynaecologist may also carry out testing for HPV (Human Papillomavirus) and STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections).
While the procedure shouldn’t hurt, you can expect to feel a little discomfort.
In Singapore, women between the ages of 25 and 29 years old are recommended to go for a Pap test while women who are 30 years and above are recommended to go for a HPV test. In Singapore, you may view the Health Promotion Board Website for further information.
However, your healthcare practitioner or may recommend a different follow up schedule if you have risk factors predisposing you to certain diseases.
Question 4: What should I know about HPV and sexual health?
HPV is a common virus affecting the human body. It is as common as the flu virus. With over 100 strains, most are, in fact, harmless. Some can cause warts.
Thirty of the 100 strains affect your genitals and are transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. Only 14 types is associated with cancer in both men and women. Type 16 and 18 is the most common cancer causing in women. It is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact, and the most common way it is transmitted is through sexual activity.
The good news is for women, we can prevent you from getting cervical cancer. And this by going for regular cervical cancer screening and vaccination. In Singapore, you may view the Health Promotion Board websitefor further information.
The issue is that certain strains may lead to cervical cancer if left untreated, so it’s essential to be monitored and checked regularly.
The other problem is that these strains have no visible signs, and screening is the only way to detect them.
As with most diseases and conditions, prevention is your best bet. There are a few ways to go about it:
- Vaccinate (ideally before you become sexually active, and be exposed to HPV, however, you can still get vaccinated to 45, it just won’t catch all the strains of HPV)
- Practise safe sex (think protection)
- Limit your number of sexual partners
- Get screened and tested regularly
- Protect your partner
- Not smoking
- Having a healthy lifestyle to make sure your immune system is at its best and most optimum
- Abstinence (it’s the most effective, but let’s face it, it’s not very workable)
Instead, if you follow the above practices, you can significantly reduce your risk of contracting it.
For further information about the HPV vaccine in Singapore, you may view HealthHub.
Question 5: How can I manage menopause symptoms?
Before we enter the next phase of our lives – which is the menopausal stage, we got to better understand the changes in our bodies. To understand your body more as your approach this age, you might want to approach your gynae.
Menopause means that one stops their period for 12 months.
It’s not an all-of-a-sudden thing. Menopause (the ending of periods, forever!) often begins up to 5 years before the actual “event,” around your mid-forties. This period is known as perimenopause or the menopausal transition. Once you’ve been period-free for 12 months, you’ve reached menopause.
During this time, your hormone levels fluctuate, with certain female hormones eventually decreasing, resulting in ovulation stopping and periods ending.
This change may typically lead to hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, irregular periods, vaginal dryness, reduced sex drive, painful sex and sleep problems, among other things. Your Gynae can help you ease the symptoms.
It is very important that before we approach the menopause, we need to keep healthy and invest on yourself, because it will pay off as we transition to the next phase of life can be a bit smoother.
Speaking to your gynaecologist can help you get a handle on the symptoms. They may prescribe medications to help alleviate the symptoms if they are particularly bothersome.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is also an option you can explore. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, with regular exercise and a healthy diet, will also help you deal with this stage of life.
It is also essential to see your gynaecologist regularly at this point, so they can do the necessary screenings and spot some health risks associated with menopause.
Take Home
Be proactive and make a list of questions and things you wish to clarify, and go ahead and schedule that dreaded appointment. It may be better than you think!
References:
● https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/menopause
● https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24489-gynecologist
● https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/gyn-care-101-what-to-know-about-seeing-a-gynecologist-202205162746
● https://womanshealthcenters.com/2021/12/30/7-reasons-why-visiting-the-gynecologist-is-important-for-your-health/
● https://thethirty.whowhatwear.com/questions-to-ask-your-gynecologist
● https://www.everlywell.com/blog/womens-health/questions-to-ask-your-gynecologist/#50
● https://www.queensgynecology.in/blog/5-questions-to-ask-your-gynecologist
● https://www.sog.com.sg/blog/5-questions-every-woman-can-ask-her-gynaecologist/
● https://www.insider.com/questions-to-ask-ob-gyn-2018-10#do-i-need-to-get-an-hpv-shot-9
● https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/perimenopause
● https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/when-should-a-female-start-seeing-a-gynecologist