All Posts

Many women prefer to see a female gynaecologist. There are all sorts of reasons, from comfort to cultural preference to simple personal choice, and they’re all valid. The hard part is knowing who to trust. This guide highlights 10 female gynaecology doctors in London. We used NHS Trust pages, hospital and insurer directories, clinic profiles and the care regulator. First, here is a disclosure. This article is published by myGynaePlus and is ranked number one because the publi

You know your body better than anyone else. You notice when a period is late, when a twinge lingers, and when something doesn't feel right. That awareness is your first warning system, and it counts for a lot with gynecological cancer. There are five types: cervical, ovarian, vulval, vaginal and womb. The Eve Appeal says around 22,050 people are diagnosed with one of them in the UK every year. Most of the symptoms turned out to have benign causes. But the NHS says that spotti

Looking for PCOS weight loss supplements? That's the honest beginning. No supplement has been shown to melt weight away in PCOS, now also called polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) by the NHS. A few show early signs of small weight changes, blood sugar, or cholesterol. The majority of that evidence is of low to moderate quality. This guide ranks ten commonly studied options by how directly the trials measured weight or related markers. It's not a shopping list but

Metformin for PCOS: Should women take metformin? Not automatically. Metformin benefits some people, particularly those with insulin resistance or those who are overweight, but it is not a treatment for everyone. A doctor makes the decision after looking at your symptoms, test results, and goals. A word about names quickly. In May 2026, experts changed the name of polycystic ovary syndrome to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS. The NHS is now using the new name.

The exact cause of PCOS is unknown to doctors. Research indicates a combination of insulin resistance, hormone imbalance, and family history. Polycystic ovary syndrome is one of the most common hormonal conditions for females, with the Endocrine Society estimating it affects around 1 in 8 women globally – more than 170 million people. One update first. In May 2026, the condition was renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS, by an international group. It menti

Many of my readers ask me about how often a woman over 50 should have a Pap smear. Here is the short version for England. The NHS invites women aged between 50 and 64 for cervical screening every 5 years. Most people are no longer invited at 65 if recent tests are normal. If your sample shows you have HPV, you may be called back sooner. Just a quick word on terminology. "Pap smear" is the US term. In the UK, the same test is called cervical screening, or smear test, and looks

Searching for “Pap smear test on my periods”? Here's the short answer: The NHS recommends booking your cervical screening for a time when you are not on your period, and if it starts on the day, you should contact your GP to rearrange. Sometimes the nurse can still go ahead, but heavy bleeding can make your result unclear. A quick note on terms. The US name is Pap smear. In the UK, the same test is called cervical screening or a smear test, and this guide uses that term. Let'

Packing for a C-section is different from packing for labour. You know when you will get there. You probably know that you will stay a day or two. And you will have to be careful afterwards. This hospital bag checklist for caesarean births includes what to pack for you, your baby and your birth partner, plus extras to help make recovery easier. Now let’s break it down and why. Team Overview Maternity notes and any regular medication taken. Oversized clothes, open at the front

The short answer: no official number exists. There is no exact number of repeat caesareans that are safe, researchers have found. No doubt, every operation will be linked with more health problems than the previous one. Your risk depends on your health, your scar on your womb, your placenta, and why you had earlier births. Thinking about a second, third or fourth baby after a C-section? This guide explains how doctors think about having C-sections safely. “Let’s look at the e

An elective C-section is when you decide to have an operation to deliver your baby through a cut in your tummy and uterus. Your maternity team books it in advance, so you know the date, time, and what to expect before you arrive. That’s a technical-sounding word, and it scares a lot of people. It shouldn't. Elective doesn’t mean optional or rushed. It means on time. This guide explains the procedure, why your doctor recommends it, how recovery works, and what you should ask y

After a caesarean birth, recovery takes time, patience, and the right kind of nourishment. Your body has just had major surgery, and what you eat in the days and weeks ahead can either help your wound heal or put you behind the eight ball. If you are wondering what foods to avoid after a C-section for mothers, you are asking the right question. Getting this part of your recovery right can mean less bloating, better energy, and a smoother return to caring for your newborn. Let

If your doctor has recommended a pelvic ultrasound, it’s natural to wonder what actually occurs during the appointment and what the scan can reveal about your health. It is one of the most widely used tests in the gynaecology world, and for good reason. It’s fast, usually painless, and gives doctors a clear view of organs that are otherwise hard to examine. What Is a Pelvic Ultrasound? Pelvic ultrasound is an imaging test. It uses high-frequency sound waves (not radiation) to

As you hit 40, your health priorities take on a different light. Bone density becomes more important, hot flushes may be coming early, heart health moves up the agenda, and sleep is not always as easy to come by as it once was. It’s no wonder searches for herbal teas for women over 40 are so frequent. A warm, simple beverage seems like an easy place to start. This is why it is worth looking at the evidence and not the marketing. Some of these teas have real clinical research

Go down any supermarket tea aisle, and you will see boxes promising to "balance your hormones", "ease PMS", or "support menopause. That is a tempting idea. A warm drink to help with cramps, mood swings or hot flushes sounds like an easy win. But how much of this is actual research and how much is clever marketing? Here’s why that matters. Some teas are well researched for women’s hormone balance, and some are not. Some, like spearmint, are supported by real randomised control

If you have a late period and a burning sensation when you pee, it’s natural to wonder if the two are related. UTI can delay your period, but it could just be bad luck with the timing. This is a common question, and the answer is a little more nuanced than a simple yes or no. Rather than guessing, let’s take a look at what’s really going on in your body, based on research and clinical guidance. 1. A UTI Doesn't Directly Stop Your Period Your urinary tract is made up of your b

If your midwife has just told you your baby is breech and mentioned External Cephalic Version (ECV) as an option, your first question might be: Does it hurt? It’s perfectly normal to be a little nervous about having a doctor apply firm pressure on your bump to try to turn your baby. This question is so important because … Here’s why. Pain or fear of pain is one of the biggest reasons women hesitate before agreeing to try ECV, yet it’s one of the most effective ways to avoid a

If you discover your baby is breech at 36 weeks, it can be a lot to process, especially if you had a specific birth plan in mind. The good news is that breech presentation after 36 weeks of pregnancy is more common than you think, and there are several well-established options after 36 weeks of pregnancy that your midwife and obstetrician will walk you through. Let's lay this on the table so you know exactly what to expect and what options you really have. What Does Breech Pr

By 37 weeks, most mothers-to-be are examining every kick, hiccup, and stretch closely, trying to work out just how their baby is lying. If you’ve been searching for breech baby girl symptoms at 37 weeks, you’re probably wondering whether the position you’re feeling means your baby is bottom-first, not head-down, and whether the sex of your baby has anything to do with it. Here’s where it gets confusing: baby movements feel different in each pregnancy, and it’s easy to try to

When couples begin trying for a baby, the main focus in the early days is on the woman’s cycle, ovulation, and womb health. That’s reasonable, but there’s more to the story. Males are responsible for around half of all cases of couples having difficulty conceiving. So if you’re trying for a baby, it’s worth knowing what a healthy sperm looks like and what it actually means for your chances. This guide explains in simple English, without jargon, the 15 markers that doctors loo

You may have heard that if you have a rough first trimester, it means the baby’s father has “strong” sperm, or if you have mild morning sickness, it means the sperm quality is "poorer". This idea comes up a lot on social media and on pregnancy forums. But is sperm quality as important to pregnancy symptoms as people claim? Let’s break it down by what research actually says, not what sounds convincing online. We get lots of questions on this at myGynaePlus, especially from cou