General Gynaecology

Fibroids are growths arising from the muscle wall of the uterus. It is a round and firm structure amid the soft muscle layer. They are the most common non-cancerous growths in women. They can develop in women of any age after the onset of menstruation. The incidence increases with age. By 40 years old, more than 50% of women would have one or more fibroids.

Treatment depends on symptoms and size of the fibroids. Surgery is usually required for the removal of fibroids. Depending on the size and location of fibroids, laparoscopy (keyhole surgery) can be performed for the removal of fibroids.

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that form within the ovary. They vary in size and content, and may be benign or malignant. Most cysts are asymptomatic and non-cancerous, and resolve spontaneously without any treatment.

Treatment depend on symptoms and characteristics of the cyst. Surgery may be recommended if the cyst is symptomatic or has abnormal features. Laparoscopy (keyhole surgery) is the approach of choice if the risk of malignancy is low, as it is associated with less post-operative pain and a faster recovery.

In a normal menstrual cycle, the average woman loses a total of 30-40ml of blood over three to seven days. Irregular, heavy or painful menstrual cycles are common problems in clinical practice. These problems can have adverse effects on the quality of life for many women. Management will depend on the underlying cause of the menstrual problem. Our doctors will determine the cause and treat the problem accordingly.

As fertility for a woman declines rapidly with age, a married couple who are ready to start a family should do so quickly. 80% of couples having regular sexual intercourse should conceive within one year of trying. Infertility is the inability to get pregnant after one year of trying. It is a common problem that can affect 1 in 7 couples. Detailed examination and investigations may be required to determine the cause.

Common symptoms of genital tract infections include vaginal discharge, itch and discomfort. The most common causes are bacterial vaginosis, candida (yeast) infection and trichomonas infection. Less common but significant causes are infections caused by sexually transmitted organisms such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and herpes.

Dysmenorrhea is defined as painful menses and this is reported by up to 50-90% of women. Endometriosis is a common cause of painful menses. This is caused by the lining of the womb (endometrium) growing in other parts of the body, commonly in the ovaries, into the muscle of the uterus and tissue layers surrounding the uterus. Endometriosis is a common cause of subfertility as well.

Consult our gynaecologist to tailor a screening package to suit your health profile.