Gynaecologyfor expats.
Practical guidance for expatriate women seeing a gynaecologist or having a baby in Singapore, with a UK-born, MRCOG-qualified female specialist.
Moving to a new country means finding a new doctor you trust.
If you have recently moved here, Dr Dharshini Gopalakrishnakone offers gynaecology and pregnancy care at Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, a short walk from Novena MRT. A female specialist, she was born in the United Kingdom, trained in Singapore and holds the MRCOG qualification from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the UK. Consultations are in English.
She sees women for:
- Routine screening and abnormal Pap smear follow-up
- Heavy or painful periods
- Perimenopause and menopause
- Contraception
- Fertility
- Pregnancy, with delivery at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital or Thomson Medical Centre
If you are expecting, Dr Dharsh usually looks after you from your first scan through to delivery, with a covering specialist if she is away. Bring any records from home, including previous screening results, and she will explain how they fit Singapore's care pathways.
- Born in the UK, trained in Singapore
- MRCOG, United Kingdom
- Your own obstetrician through pregnancy and birth
- Near Novena MRT
Do I need a referral to see a gynaecologist in Singapore?
You can usually book a private specialist directly, without a GP referral. Some insurance policies ask for a referral letter or pre-authorisation before they will cover a specialist visit, so check your policy before you book.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
- Your passport or pass details, and your insurance details
- Previous Pap smear or HPV results, and any colposcopy reports
- Your vaccination record, including HPV vaccination
- A list of your medicines using their generic names, as brand names often differ between countries
- Details of your contraception, and any pregnancy records or scans
How does cervical screening work in Singapore?
Singapore's national guidance is a Pap test every 3 years for women aged 25 to 29, and an HPV test every 5 years from age 30 to 69, for women who have ever been sexually active. If your home country uses a different schedule, or you have had an abnormal result overseas, bring the report so your next test can be timed correctly.
What is it like having a baby in Singapore as an expat?
In private care, the obstetrician who sees you through your pregnancy usually also delivers your baby. With Dr Dharsh, that means antenatal visits at the clinic and delivery at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital or Thomson Medical Centre. A few practical points:
- Check whether your insurance covers maternity care, and whether a waiting period applies.
- Share your birth preferences early. The clinic supports natural birth where it is safe.
- Your baby's birth must be registered in Singapore within 42 days, usually arranged with the hospital. Contact your embassy about citizenship and a passport for your baby.
What if I need help out of hours?
Helpful reading
Your first antenatal visit: what to expect
A simple guide to booking, what to bring, and the checks that happen at your first pregnancy appointment.
Abnormal Pap smear result: what it means and what happens next
An abnormal result is common and rarely means cancer. Here is what the terms mean and what follow-up usually involves.
Perimenopause: symptoms, and the treatment options that help
The years before menopause can bring irregular periods, hot flushes and poor sleep. Treatment can help.
New to Singapore? Book your first visit.
The clinic will confirm a time with you within one working day.