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  • Soy and Fertility: To Eat or Not to Eat?
    Will taking soy products make it difficult for me to conceive? Soya milk and tofu were the staple food for G, a 34-year-old teacher and a vegetarian. She was getting married soon and came for a preconception check. She was keen to get pregnant after marriage because of her age. But she was confused and…
  • Reproductive Aging. What is it?
    Menstrual flow getting less For theMen past six months, H, 40, was puzzled as to why her menstrual cycles were getting very irregular, lasted for a shorter duration and the flow was less. “My menses used to be very regular every month and lasted 6 days,” she recounted. “But now, I menstruate between 40 to…
  • Nipple Discharge and Brain Tumor
    Irregular menses M, a 16-year-old student was shocked when she found a small amount of whitish discharge oozing out from her nipples when she accidentally pressed on them while bathing. Upset and disturbed, she went and told her mother who brought her to see me the next day. M had her first menstruation at the…
  • Covid-19 vaccines, fertility, pregnancy and breastfeeding
    covid vaccination H, a healthcare worker and mother of two had the first dose of Pfizer’s vaccine. Her menstrual period which had been regular was delayed for over a week while awaiting for her second dose of the vaccine. She was much relieved when the blood test of the pregnancy hormone(B-hCG) was negative. As the…
  • Me and My Fibroid: Eruption of A Silent Volcano
    Heavy bleeding and menstrual cramps For the past 2 years, G, 31, had been enduring menstrual pain and heavy bleeding with clots. She had become accustomed to the “stormy time of the month”. “I did not seek medical help as I thought it was normal to have some discomfort or clots during menses after childbirth,…
  • The Silent Disease: Osteoporosis
    She came for her annual gynecological checkup. There was a plaster cast over her right arm. “What happened to your arm?” I asked. “I slipped and fell in the bathroom and fractured my wrist. After investigations, the doctor told me that I suffered from osteoporosis,” she answered. L, a 52-year-old teacher had been menopausal for…
  • Blackout during pregnancy: Am I anemic?
    http://www.alife.org.sg she suddenly felt dizzy  blacked out for a few seconds She was glad that her symptoms of morning sickness were over. Her husband suggested that they go for celebration with a good meal. Halfway through the lunch, she suddenly felt dizzy  blacked out for a few seconds. She was perspiring profusely when her panicky…
  • Accounting basics: The balance sheet and KPI
    Content Customizing An Accounting & Tax Planning Strategy For Your Architecture Firm Colorado Springs CPA Firm Architectural and Engineering The Best Accounting Software for Architects Architects + Engineers Discussed Features The aim is not to tell the story of the organization’s activities but to make the actions understandable and valuable to its owners. The end…
  • Why ovulation prediction kit (OPK) fails
    http://www.alife.org.sg She had been using ovulation prediction kit (OPK) to time sexual intercourse for the past 8 months with no result. She looked dejected. Her menstruation came again. Her hope of attaining motherhood was dashed once more. She had been using ovulation prediction kit (OPK) to time sexual intercourse for the past 8 months with…
  • Endometriosis and Intimacy
    http://www.alife.org.sg she was in distressed with pelvic pain I was called to see T at the emergency room in the hospital one night. She was a 28-year-old teacher and had been married for the past 2 months. T was seen by me 2 years ago for severe menstrual pain. She had endometriosis which was confirmed…
  • UTI in Pregnancy: A Concern
    http://www.alife.org.sg She was taken aback when she saw traces of blood in her urine. She was at her 15th week of gestation and this was her first pregnancy. M, a 28-year-old mum was taken aback when she saw traces of blood in her urine. She was at her 15th week of gestation and this was…
  • “I am menopausal and bleeding.”
    http://www.alife.org.sg she had noticed fresh stains of blood on her underwear for the past 3 days. M ,aged 60, came to see me because she had noticed fresh stains of blood on her underwear for the past 3 days. “ I have been menopausal since the age of 52. I thought my periods would be…
  • Appendicitis in pregnancy
    http://www.alife.org.sg she was woken up by a severe piercing pain in her stomach. H, 29, was at 32 weeks of gestation. She was counting down the weeks for her first child to be born. One morning, she was woken up by a severe piercing pain in her stomach. “The pain felt like I was going…
  • HPV Vaccines: An update
    http://www.alife.org.sg HPV stands for Human Papilloma Virus. It is a very common virus and consists of a group of 200 types of related viruses. More than 40 HPV types can infect the genital areas of males and females. They are spread through intimate contact during vaginal, oral or anal sex. The infection is very common…
  • How to Help Someone Detox from Alcohol at Home
    Content The Home Alcohol Detox What is the best way to stop drinking? Is home detox suitable for other drugs of dependence? WHAT HAPPENS AFTER ALCOHOL OR DRUG DETOX? Increase Chance of Relapse Medication Management to Sustain Recovery A non-judgemental approach and the use of motivational interviewing techniques are essential. Once you have built rapport,…
  • Meditations for Addictive Behavior
    Content Possible Kundalini Meditation Risks Salt And Vinegar Zucchini Chips – A Healthier Snack! How Kundalini Yoga can Fast-Track our Addiction Recovery. The Power of Kundalini Yoga to Get You There Meditation for Healing Addictions Kundalini Meditation to Break Bad Habits and Addictions As you do this a muscle will move under the thumbs, feel…
  • Alcohol Use Disorder and Rehabilitation Special Subjects MSD Manual Professional Edition
    Content Where Can I Safely Detox? Cutting back vs. quitting alcohol altogether AA and Other Peer Support Groups for Alcohol Addiction How can drinking too much affect me? Medications, Counseling, and Related Conditions Remind yourself of the adverse long-term effects of heavy drinking and how it won’t really make you feel better, even in the…
  • “My ovarian cyst got twisted!!”
    http://www.alife.org.sg https://www.alife.org.sg/post/doc-my-menses-smells Ovarian cyst torsion with conservation of ovary J, a 28-year-old engineer, would never forget the afternoon when she was rushed to the hospital for an emergency surgery J had a slight abdominal pain and nausea which started suddenly, shortly after taking her breakfast at a hawker center. “I thought I might have been…
  • Defying All Odds: Cord prolapse
    http://www.alife.org.sg cord prolapse ,a rare complication of induced labour https://www.peterchewgynae.com/womens-clinic-a-miracle-baby-grappling-with-repeated-miscarriages/ C, a 36-year-old teacher was in her third pregnancy. At 22 weeks of gestation, she was diagnosed to have gestational diabetes with a slight increase in the amniotic fluid. During the last trimester, her blood pressure was raised and she was admitted for induction of labour…
  • A Miracle Baby: Grappling with Repeated Miscarriages
    https://www.alife.org.sg She had had 3 miscarriages for the past 4 years. Y, aged  35, came from a neighboring country. For her first pregnancy, she conceived within  6 months of her marriage. She thought that everything would be smooth-sailing. Unfortunately, she had a miscarriage at about 10 weeks of gestation. She felt upset and grieved over her loss  for a while. It took her…
  • “Doc, My Menses Smells”
    http://www.alife.org.sg She looked worried and upset when she stepped into my consultation room. “Doc, my menses has a fishy smell for the past 2 months.” She said. “Am I having a growth in my vagina?” T, a 32-year-old housewife had been married for 5 years. Her husband worked in a neighboring country and returned home for a week every 2 to 3…
  • COVID-19 and pregnancy
    She sighed a big sigh of relief when her COVID-19 tests were negative. M, 29, pregnant with a pair of twins was at 30 weeks of gestation. She had been having fever and cough for 2 days before she was admitted to the ward for observation. For expectant mothers, the deadly virus has caused much…
  • A Mother’s Not-So-Sweet Story: Pregnancy diabetes
    M was upset and looked at me in disbelief when I told her the not-so-sweet news. She had failed her glucose tolerance test (GTT) and had been suffering from gestational diabetes. M, aged 34, and a first-time mum was at 24 weeks of gestation. “Doc, I have a sweet tooth.” She confessed. “I would indulge…
  • “Doc, I’m pregnant and bleeding”
      M almost freaked out when she saw a patch of fresh blood staining her panty in the morning. She had had sexual intercourse with her husband the night before. She woke him up straightaway and rushed to my clinic. M, 28, a first-time mum, was in her 12 weeks of pregnancy. She related the incident…
  • Saying Hello and Goodbye to My Unborn Child
    Anencephaly “I’m sorry but your baby’s condition is not compatible with life,” I told E. She was dumbfounded. She could not believe what I was saying. As I continued to show her the images of her baby on the ultrasound, she began to realize that this was really happening. Tears started to roll down her…
  • Massive bleeding after delivery: Postpartum haemorrhage
      K,38, would never forget the experience soon after her delivery. She had a massive bleed and had to be resuscitated in the intensive care unit (ICU).   This was her third pregnancy. Her two previous pregnancies were normal and the deliveries were smooth and uncomplicated. For this pregnancy, she had mild gestational diabetes and the amniotic fluid…
  • A close encounter with CMV infection during pregnancy
      She was distraught when her blood tests confirmed that she had been infected with CMV- the cytomegalovirus. K, a 28-year-old kindergarten teacher and a first-time mum was at her 18 weeks of pregnancy. She had a mild fever and sore throat about 2 weeks ago. There were some swollen lymph nodes on her neck….
  • Why am I so upset before menses? Battling PMS
    Here is an abstract from what may be called a symptom diary: “March 1: Menstruation begins. As usual, a slight tummy ache on first day. “March 16: Getting tired. Insomnia last night. No appetite today. Tummy feels bloated. “March 20: Feeling miserable. Forgetful. Breasts are painful. Tearful for no reason. “March 22: Unable to concentrate….
  • Why is my tummy so bloated?
    G, 43, had a rude shock and felt devastated a year ago when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She was unaware that the bloated feeling in her tummy was associated with the disease. “I had nausea and a bloated feeling in my tummy for a week. My family doctor diagnosed me as having tummy…
  • Abdominal cramps, constipation and bloating during menses. Is it Endometriosis?
    H, a 28 year-old lady walked into my consultation room with an anxious and depressed look. She worked as an account assistant in an accounting firm and studied a part-time degree course at night. “Doc, my work-life has been quite stressful recently. I have been suffering from tummy cramps with constipation and bloating for the…