A Women’s Health Clinic’s Guide to Maximizing Your Teleconsultation 

The COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed the landscape of healthcare. Believe it or not, this unfortunate event that shut down the world for a brief period has also brought about a positive development to the medical field through the adoption of telemedicine. Numerous medical practitioners and institutions, including women’s health clinics in Singapore (https://healthclinicgroup.com/womens-health/), offer teleconsultation in their services.

Teleconsultation has opened the doors for people in remote areas, individuals with mobility issues, professionals with busy schedules, caregiving responsibilities or restraints in the workplace to be able to receive medical care for non-emergency conditions without having to travel. 

Women’s Health: Non-Urgent Conditions Suitable for Teleconsult

Various non-emergency health conditions in women’s health can be discussed with a medical provider online through teleconsultation.  

Breast health updates

Teleconsultations are beneficial in discussing non-emergency symptoms influencing your breast’s health like changes in breast texture or mild breast pain. Your doctor can also schedule a follow-up appointment with you via video conferencing to interpret mammogram or ultrasound reviews, give instructions for further evaluations requiring an in-person appointment, provide guidance on breast care and answer concerns around benign conditions. 

Contraceptive Counseling and Prescriptions

One great use for teleconsultation in addressing women’s health covers the management of birth controls. Your doctor can provide counseling and even make personalised recommendations based on your needs and lifestyle through a virtual call. In addition, teleconsultation makes reproductive planning even more accessible as your doctor can also prescribe medications without requiring you to make an in-person appointment.

Fertility and Preconception Counseling

If you are planning to conceive, then a teleconsultation with a women’s health clinic affords you the convenience of being supported emotionally and physically. Your doctor can properly give guidance about fertility tracking, management of chronic diseases, and issue prescriptions for medications. Further referrals can be done by your medical provider virtually when your condition requires it.

Management of Perimenopause and Menopause

For women who are advanced in age, telling when the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause will exactly hit. The signs of these conditions, caused by imbalances in your body’s hormones, can creep up earliest in your 30s. Challenges with sleeping, hot flashes, mood swings, and vaginal dryness are just some of these symptoms and these may also overlap as signs of other health conditions. A teleconsult allows you and your doctor to securely discuss these issues and explore possible treatments, such as non-hormonal alternatives, lifestyle changes, or hormonal replacement therapy (HRT).

Menstrual Health Issues

Discomforts and disorders concerning the menstrual cycle is a top issue among women. Painful periods (dysmenorrhoea), a common concern and usually non-urgent condition, can be debilitating, which makes traveling to see a doctor while on your period difficult. Other issues like missed periods (amenorrhoea) and heavy bleeding (menorrhagia) are typically managed by tracking their symptoms and changing medications. These can be conveniently done over a remote meeting with your doctor.

Just like a normal in-person consultation, certain information will be asked of you, such as your medical history, symptoms you are experiencing, and medications you are taking. Through teleconsultation, you can reach your women’s health clinic in Singapore easily and get guidance on how to address this concern wherever you are located. 

Monitoring of Chronic Conditions

Endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and thyroid disorders are only some of the women’s health conditions that can last for a long time and require close monitoring. The process of overseeing these conditions, including check-ups, lifestyle guidance, and medication adjustments can be regularly done through teleconsultation thereby minimising your chances of missing out on an in-person appointment and reducing the frequency of clinic visits.

 Sexual Health Concerns

Teleconsults create a private and safe area for intimate discussions related to your sexual health. A women’s health clinic in Singapore can virtually assist your needs, including education about sexual health, assessing STI risks and follow-ups on tests. You can receive recommendations for the right screening tests, have your results interpreted, get referred for in-person care, or receive prescriptions for your treatment plan over a virtual appointment.

Maximizing Your Teleconsultation with a Women’s Health Clinic in Singapore

Make the most of your time with your women’s health clinic teleconsultation by preparing beforehand. This will ensure that you are given proper and personalised care.

Here are some tips that you can follow to be ready for your virtual consultation:

• Confirm your tech equipment is working – Be sure that you have a working digital device that is connected to the internet and is equipped with a camera and microphone, such as a computer, laptop, mobile phone, or tablet. Check if your internet connection is stable. Likewise, if the women’s health clinic has a website or telehealth application, be sure that you are logged in. Download the app to your device if you do not have it yet. Ensure that you are also in a well-lit and quiet area with the camera positioned at an angle that frames your face properly in the video.
• Keep clear copies of documents or photos of symptoms – Clear photo or scanned copies of documents, such as diagnostic test results will help your healthcare provider be able to interpret them accurately. Certain conditions may also require photos for your doctor to be able to assess symptoms precisely. For instance, you may experience a rash or skin discolouration around your breast area. Take clear photos to show these to your provider. Upload it to the platform you are using, if possible.
• Round up all of your medical information – Prior to your teleconsult, gather the following all info related to your medical concern, including your symptoms, family history, list of medications, past illnesses or hospitalisations, and even your health insurance card.
• Write down all your concerns and questions – Having a list of all the topics and questions that you want to be addressed allows you to remember them during your online consultation.
• Sensitive symptoms should be explained clearly – It can be embarrassing to describe some symptoms that you have, especially when they are very sensitive. However, without proper information, your doctor might not be able to evaluate and diagnose your condition correctly. To avoid any misdiagnosis, be prepared to describe your sensitive symptoms clearly. Your doctor is a medical professional and you can be sure that whatever you share through a teleconsult is bound in confidentiality. When describing symptoms, remember to be specific. For instance, you can explain the following conditions by using a specific description:
• Discharge: Describe its colour, consistency, odour
• Pain: Describe its severity, location, type (cramping, dull, stabbing)
• Sexual health concerns: Mention any bleeding, changes in libido, pain
• Be on time for your call and extend your patience – Dial in at least five to ten minutes before your teleconsult. There may be instances that a previous call may run over your scheduled appointment, be patient and stay on the line until your doctor logs in.

The Health Advisory Clinic

One Raffles Place, #04-49
1 Raffles Place, Singapore
048616
https://healthclinicgroup.com/
Tel: (+65) 6226 6442
Whatsapp: (+65) 9886 6442