Top health concerns for women you should know

Assess and evaluate your health with professionals. (Photo: Getty Images)

by Dr. Julian Ng, DTAP Clinic

SINGAPORE – Many diseases can emerge over time, but there are some conditions specific to women that can significantly affect a woman’s quality of life. The top five women’s health problems are:

1. obesity

2. Chronic disease – high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes

3. Fertility problems

4. osteoporosis

5. Cancers – including breast cancer

What are the signs?

Many conditions that affect women’s health remain silent until the problem worsens. These include abnormal discharge or vaginal bleeding, frequent fractures after a fall, or even the consequences of chronic conditions such as weight gain, early signs of heart disease or stroke such as chest pain, dizziness, and fainting.

Early detection of chronic diseases with essential health screening at DTAP Express, coupled with nutritional screening and screening for female cancer markers, can provide a deeper insight into a woman’s health and any silent conditions that require early intervention.

What are the most common women’s problems encountered in DTAP clinics?

Women often come to DTAP clinics for long-term contraceptives such as Nexplanon, Implanon, IUDs (intrauterine devices), and Depo Provera injections. These are tailored for women who prefer longer-term contraception compared to daily pills, or for women who experience side effects from daily pills.

Another common concern we address is HPV treatment, prevention, and testing. This is a complex series of female care steps with the ultimate goal of preventing cervical cancer. Procedures and treatments range from vaccinations against the human papillomavirus Gardasil 9 (HPV) to regular PAP smears and HPV tests to active HPV wart treatments. Some cases require more specialized testing, such as colposcopy, which is a visualization of the cervix under telescopic magnification. These tests are carried out with other trustworthy health partners in coordination with our care team.

Osteoporosis due to nutritional deficiencies, menopause, aging, and long-term use of contraception is something that affects aging women. This is another important aspect of women’s health that starts with a nutritional health screening blood test at DTAP Express. This test can determine deficiencies in vitamin D, calcium, B12, and folic acid. Additional examinations for osteoporosis at the DTAP Clinic include a detailed clinical history and a bone mineral density scan, which can analyze and monitor this more closely. Although there is no “cure” for osteoporosis, patients can still treat the disease and stop it from progressing.

The story goes on

Is the self-test reliable? Will Patients Make Mistakes?

Self-tests for women fall into two main categories: blood tests, which are done by our on-site phlebotomist, and vaginal self-smears, which are mainly done for sexual health exams. With clear instructions, women can easily collect their own swabs themselves.

So far, there is a 100 percent success rate of these self-smears after more than 500 patients. The smears are interpreted using PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) technology for the most common sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, in which even the smallest infection spots can be detected. The accuracy of the self-cleaning test is more than 97 percent in previous studies.

Are these tests faster and cheaper than going to a doctor?

Traditionally, most clinics have a doctor to take care of the blood collection. In addition, there is a consultation before the exam, which tends to incur additional costs. DTAP Express offers the added convenience of allowing patients to perform the tests they already know they want before consulting our doctors.

Usually people get their annual health tests and are not interested in seeing their doctor if the results are normal. Some of the reasons for this are a busy schedule, a desire to save money on the consultation, and even travel distances.

Testing is made easier with DTAP Express, as the results are explained with a detailed compendium and a follow-up can be made by teleconsultation if patients decide not to visit the clinic.

If the results are more worrying, a personal consultation will be planned immediately and managed by our friendly concierge care team on standby.

Will the results sent be confidential and discreet? Is it being sent to the wrong person?

The results will only be sent to the contact details provided by the patient. To add an extra layer of protection, these results are further encrypted so that only the intended recipient has the password to unlock the results file.

We take data protection seriously and your personal health information has the highest priority.

Can I take the test kit home for myself or someone else to avoid infection during a pandemic?

Currently, on-site testing is being carried out at our central location in the heart of CBD. It’s quick, discreet, and straightforward.

Like all venues, you will be routinely checked for COVID risks by our service staff in accordance with the latest applicable guidelines and your vaccination status. This is how we can ensure that our clinic is safe for you and for other patients.

In the near future, home test kits will be developed in collaboration with our teleconsultation services so that patients can perform their own tests at home and return the sample using a clinic-arranged courier.

source https://www.bisayanews.com/2021/09/30/top-health-concerns-for-women-you-should-know/