A gynaecologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the health of the female reproductive system. Some general physicians may be able to pinpoint and address minor women’s health issues, but an expert opinion from the gynecologist is absolutely essential when it comes to certain aspects of women’s health.

They perform multiple tests and exams aimed at women’s health, including standard annual tests on adult women to maintain their reproductive health. During this examination, the gynae will physically examine the woman and perform a series of tests, including a pap smear, STD tests, breast exam, and monitor the woman’s use of birth control. In addition, sometimes gynaecologists are also certified obstetricians who may be capable of monitoring the health of the mother and the fetus during pregnancy. 

10 Things to look for a Gynaecologist

Affiliated with a hospital you trust

Your Gynaecologist’s hospital is the one you are going to visit for any tests or treatments related to your reproductive health or give birth to a baby. For this reason, consider the quality of care provided by the hospital where Gynae can treat patients properly because, based on research, top-rated hospitals have better survival rate and reduce the risk of complications, double-check if the hospital is capable of dealing with an unexpected emergency situation, and lastly consider the location of the hospital so that it may be convenient for you to go there.

Communication Style

Choose a Gynaecologist you’re comfortable talking to and who can give you all the information you need. How to test if your gynae has a good communication style? During your first session, try asking questions and see how he or she responds, accept your questions and answer them in a way that you can understand. Lastly, choose a Singapore Gynaecologist who is interested in getting to know you, that will consider your treatment preferences, and who will support your decision-making process.

Read Patients Reviews

Maybe you don’t feel comfortable asking your friends or relatives about their gynae, or don’t have someone to ask. That’s when online patient reviews can help you, these reviews usually reflect on people’s experience with scheduling appointment, wait times, clinical environment, and hospitality. Along the way, you may learn how their patients trust their gynaecologist, how much time they spend with each patient, and how well they answer questions. Such reviews are not 100% reliable, since each individual has a different opinion of their criteria in reviews, but, you can cross out names that have poor feedbacks.

Consider Gender

When it comes to choosing a Gynaecologist, it is important for you to feel comfortable with your Gynae gender because you will need to discuss personal information freely and examine your private parts. Remember, you don’t have to go through this emotional stress during this phase so make to consider your Gynaecologist gender before making an appointment. If you consider being cared by a female Gynaecologist, you should still consider their skills rather than gender, ensure that they can provide the best level of care and always available, at the end of the day it is your comfort that matters.

Research the Gynaecologist credentials

You will be sharing some of the most intimate information, your sexuality, and your body with your Gynecologist. It is therefore important that your Gynae is Board certified and has the necessary training, skills, and experience to provide gynecological and obstetric care. Do your research to ensure that your Gynaecologist doest does not have a history of negligence claims or disciplinary actions. You can look for them in the Gynae’s medical school record, training hospital, certifications, and malpractice and disciplinary history on state websites. The Gynaecologist’s experience is particularly relevant when you are facing a high-risk pregnancy, as well as trying to find out the success rate of the doctor in handling conditions similar to yours.

Know the duration of your appointment

Make sure that your gynaecologist is willing to answer all of your questions, concerns, go over the medical diagnosis, management, etc during the duration of your appointment. Overall, you should ensure that you have the best possible care when you find a Gynae that makes you feel comfortable and well-cared for.

Make sure they’re experience

When you’re having a high-risk pregnancy or a complex gynecological problem, the Gynaecologist experience matters. The more experience your doctor has with a condition or procedure, the better your outcomes are likely to be. In addition, some Gynae focus on obstetrics, and others focus exclusively on Gyneacology. To ensure that your doctor has experience in treating conditions similar to yours, ask how many times he or she performed those procedures and find out about all possible complications that gynae has experienced, as well as your own risk of complications.

Availability

While it is important to look for a well experienced Gynaecologist, you need to look for a doctor that you can easily reach 24X7. Your Gynaecologist must be able to address your emergency calls and be responsive in terms of getting back to you when you need it. Know how long it takes to schedule a non-routine appointment and how available your Gynaecologist on weekends and after hours, these factors need to be kept in mind as certain Gynae serve in more than one hospital.

Highly Recommended

One of the best ways to tell whether a gynecologist is worth seeing, if the people you trust such as your female friends and relatives vouch for them. When you ask for recommendations, know the gynaecologist skills, expertise, and communication style. Do your online searches to ensure that your Gynae has credentials and is well rated by all patients he or she has treated.

Know what your insurance covers

Cost is an important consideration when choosing any doctor. If the Gynaecologist is out of your budget, you’re going to have to pay thru cash for their services, which can add up quickly.

Difference between Gynaecologist and Obstetrician

They usually have the same training throughout medical school and basically have the same qualifications. But some of them may focus on gynecology, while others choose to work in obstetrics. Gynaecologist and obstetricians are both responsible for the women’s reproductive health and for the treatment of conditions that may arise with related organs.

Gynecologist

Manages women’s reproductive health care and is often responsible as a primary doctor for women. They handle routine reproductive health check-ups, perform preventive care measures such as pap smear, which look for cells in the cervix and uterus that are atypical, and prescribe medications for conditions that are sexually transmitted or related to the reproductive system. In addition, a Gynaecologist may also perform a breast exam to ensure that there are no nodules or cysts are present that may indicate tumors or cancer, when they are indicated they may suggest biopsies. 

Obstetrician

Trained in all aspects of women’s reproductive health, but also providing services closely related to pregnancy, childbirth, and etc. They perform fetal check-ups during your pregnancy period. These doctors will treat any pregnancy-related issues that may arise. An Obstetrician may also provide postpartum birth control in the form of tubal ligation or in less permanent forms.

Choosing a gynaecologist or obstetrician is one of the most important phases of your life so make sure that you trust them completely. We hope this article will help you understand in finding the best Singapore gynaecologist to meet your needs.