Women’s Health

Dear Sandaramei, Yes you are still able to get pregnant depending on the location and size of your fibroids and ovarian cysts. You might wish to consult your gynaecologist for an ultrasound scan to determine the location of any fibroids and ovarian cysts for a personalised discussion. It might also be reassuring to know that there are 2 ovaries a female reproductive system and if 1 ovary is really affected due to ovarian cysts, the other ovary can still produce eggs for fertilisation to take place. Hope this helps.

Dear @sandra You should not be pregnant as you had your period after your intercourse. Fertilisation happens mid- menstrual cycle which is usually 14 days after your menses. It might also be reassuring to know that ella is effective 5 days post intercourse and your pregnancy test is negative. So you should not become pregnant based on the recent sexual intercourse. Hope this helps. 

Dear @Anicka0730  You may develop pain due to constipation, known as constipation colic. The pain is due to the intestine contracting to try pass out the stools. Patients commonly feel pain due to constipation on the left of their abdomen where stools are more formed and hard.  Pain can be felt over left lower corner, left side of abdomen, upper abdomen or over the whole abdomen in very severe constipation. Do not hesitate to consult your family doctor to rule out other conditions that can present as abdominal pain. 

Dear @ThankYou. Kindly note that HPV vaccination is recommended prior to any sexual interactions. You are right to point out that the risk of acquiring HPV is much lower if both partners are each other's " only partner for life". However no one can be 100% certain of their future and hence it is still advisable for patients to undergo HPV vaccination before sexually active. Hope this helps.

Dear @Ariana351 pregnancy is a possibility as there is risk of failure with use of any contraceptive methods including implants. The risk of failure is higher especially since the implant was not started at the onset of your menstruation cycle on 22nd Jan. A backup method of contraception such as barrier contraceptives is recommended when first started on implant.

Dear @sebastian. It will be good to do a urine pregnancy test to ensure you are not pregnant in view of delayed menses. Menstrual cycle can be irregular especially if you are down with a cold or unwell. You might wish to consult your gynaecologist or family physician if you have persistent irregular menses. They might consider further investigations or start you on hormonal tablets to regulate your menses. Hope this helps.

Hi @madiii_kaddi The resolution of your photo is not very clear. It will be helpful if you are able to take a higher resolution photograph and point to the area that you are concerned about. I will be able to better advise further subsequently. Thank you.

Dear @Shameela Depo-Provera is given as an intramuscular injection.  Im inferring that the nurse gave the injection closer to your hip instead of the middle of your buttock as the upper outer quadrant of the buttock is recommended for intramuscular injection, in order to avoid the sciatic nerve which lies deep in the buttock. It is alright to lie on your side or prone position while receiving the injection. Hope this helps.

Hi @lolololol Thank you for your question!

I would say that the HPV vaccination is important regardless as it has been proven to reduce the risk of cervical cancer in women (most common cancer in females). Many people who have HPV are asymptomatic and can easily transmit it to another person. In Singapore, the estimate is that 8 of every 10 people have some form of HPV. 

Although you are only looking to have a single sexual partner, I would say that the benefit of the vaccination would still outweigh the risks/drawbacks. You may not know if your partner has had a sexual contact before/been exposed unknowingly. 

In Singapore, you can use your medisave to pay for a portion of the HPV vaccination for certain brands so do consider getting it early! Prevention is always better than the cure (though there is no cure for HPV technically). 

Hope this helps!

Hi @htg . Thank you for your question!

I would say that if this is unusual for you, you should definitely see a gynaecologist. Sudden increase in menstrual flow/blood clots can indicate underlying disease which can be as simple as Fibroids/thickened uterus lining all the way to forms of cancer (though much less likely). The initial evaluation usually just involves a simple ultrasound. Rest assured, there is usually a benign/no cause but you should get it evaluated regardless. You may want to approach polyclinic to get a referral to KKH/NUH Gynaecology or seek help with a private gynaecologist. 

Hope this helps!

Hi @Flowerqueen . 

Apologies I don't quite understand your question. Are you asking why they recommended STI screening for you?

Thanks! Apologies

Hi @anonymousgirl , some variations in period cycles are expected during periods of stress during exam periods for example, however they shouldn't be less than 21 days or more than 35 days on a regular basis, and there shouldn't be large variations (>2 weeks) between your longer and shorter cycles. These would be features that require further assessment and potentially investigations to rule-out possible causes such as thyroid disorder or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

You may not have anything to worry about based on your cycle and that one-off incident alone, however given the accompanying thinning of hair, you would benefit from further assessment to be assured that there are no underlying reversible causes such as thyroid disorder. I would recommend for your to speak to your parents about this and arrange a review with your doctor for a more detailed assessment. I hope this helps!