What You Need to Know About Caring for Women’s Health in Singapore
The rapid economic progress of Singapore has triggered significant social transformation, including an increasing number of women entering the workforce. Singapore government provide many efforts to motivate women to join the workforce. World Bank reported that in 2014, the labour force participation rate of female among Singaporeans is up to 65%.
Nevertheless, the social expectations concerning the labour division among Singaporean men and women and women’s involvement in carrying out family duties have not developed correspondingly. Women overloaded with dual responsibilities as a housewife and mothers, make them prone to suffering from illnesses, including breast cancer, which is the leading cause of death of women in Singapore. Fortunately, Singapore has well-recognized quality and healthcare sector.
As a result, women’s clinic Singapore is thriving and Singapore women, who account for half of the country’s population, have improved overall health outcomes. Still, the government should not be the only one obligated to take care of women’s health. Singaporean women should possess self-awareness and safeguard their own physical and mental well-being. This article will walk you through the essential details of women’s health care.
Why Singaporean women need primary care and a gynaecologist?
Primary care physicians are doctors who see adult patients for common illness, such as headaches and urinary infections. They also handle chronic diseases like diabetes and depression. On the other hand, gynaecologists are physicians that specialize in women’s health, focusing primarily on the female reproductive system.
Hence, when women have no serious health concerns or particular gynecologic issues, seeing a primary care physician would usually be sufficient. In contrast, women should see a gynaecologist from reputable women’s health clinic Singapore for annual screening or at any time when they experience symptoms like abnormal uterine bleeding or vulvar, pelvic, and vaginal pain.
Reaching out and building a long-term relationship with both the general physician and the gynaecologist, however, allow Singaporean women to gain access to resources for answering their inquiries and specialists who could understand their medical history better.
Why do Singaporean women need to schedule a yearly physical examination?
An annual physical examination is essential for good health in all phases of life, not just when during the student or older days. Dr Nancy Cook (ob-gyn) and Dr Catherine Deckle (internal medicine doctor) from Piedmont stated the importance of women to have both physical and well-women examination every year.
During this examination, doctors would perform a complete physical test on the patients and discuss lifestyle habits which could affect their well-being, such as weight loss and smoking cessation. Patients would also undergo screening tests and immunization.
Women’s physical examination in Singapore may differ depending on the doctors’ or hospitals’ policy. The exam typically includes the following:
- Assessment of vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and respiration rate
- Review on the patient’s overall appearance
- Family medical history
- Heart, lung, neurological, and dermatological examination
- Head, neck, and extremities examination
- Breast examination
Primary care doctors may also request for a blood test to screen diseases like kidney and liver disorder, high cholesterol, diabetes and anemia. When women reach certain age, doctors would order screening tests, such as mammograms and colonoscopies.
Why do Singaporean women need to schedule a gynaecological exam every year?
Although full body examination is essential, women should also take advantage of the specialists’ skills. Gynaecologists can address several health conditions, such as cancer, sexually transmitted diseases and other women’s health concerns. Hence, scheduling an annual gynaecological exam would help women to ensure that their breast, ovaries, uterus are in good condition without alarming concern.
Moreover, since gynaecologist primarily handles fertility concerns and birth control, women can discuss fertility and pregnancy with them when they try to conceive.
Choosing the best women’s clinic in Singapore
When trying to choose the right women’s health clinic Singapore, consider the clinic’s reputation, facility, services, doctors’ credentials, and years of experience in women’s health and their average consultation length.
