Tony Tan Women and Fetal Clinic

15/09/2025

Use of continuous glucose monitoring (compared to self monitoring) in gestational diabetes mellitus reduces the HbA1c and the rate of large for gestational age fetuses.

Evidence for improved glucose metrics and perinatal outcomes with continuous glucose monitoring compared to self-monitoring in diabetes during pregnancy https://ow.ly/hsWJ50WV3Cj

14/09/2025

10/09/2025

Opportunistic Salpingectomy (or removal of fallopian tubes) during abdominal or laparoscopic surgery in patients who have completed their families reduces the subsequent development of ovarian cancer. This is because most ovarian cancers start developing from the fallopian tubes, and not from the ovaries.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Nxkp1QgB2/?mibextid=wwXIfrl e f nn loome

A simple step during routine surgeries could be the key to helping prevent hard to detect ovarian cancers – and our amazing researchers are leading the way.

Most ovarian cancers actually start in the fallopian tubes, not the ovaries.

That’s a game-changer.

At the Women’s, Associate Professor Orla McNally and her team are pushing for a smart, preventative move: removing the fallopian tubes during other abdominal surgeries – like hysterectomies, gallbladder removal, or even hernia repairs.

It’s called opportunistic salpingectomy, and it’s already being adopted in Canada and Europe.

This approach is especially recommended for:
✅ anyone already having pelvic or abdominal surgery and
✅ women who’ve finished having children or
✅ those considering permanent contraception.

The Women’s is at the forefront of making this routine in Australia – with research underway to understand how women and surgeons feel about it.

What does it mean? Well, if you fit the criteria above and you're having surgery in your lower abdomen, you’d be encouraged to ask your doctor: Can my fallopian tubes be removed too?

It’s a small change. But it could be life-saving.

Learn more about opportunistic salpingectomy: http://bit.ly/4mduyvo

06/09/2025

Iron deficiency defined as ferritin < 30 ng/ml is present in 40% of pregnant women in the first trimester.

In our clinic, we used to measure ferritin routinely at 28 weeks only. Then we gave oral iron supplements and recheck ferritin level 4 weeks later. If the ferritin is still low 4 weeks later, we would offer intravenous iron infusion then. We found then that a significant proportion required intravenous iron infusion.

We now check ferritin level in the first trimester and again at 28 weeks. When low in the first trimester, we could then offer oral iron supplements earlier, and therefore reduce the need for intravenous iron infusion eventually.

New in O&G Open: Prevalence of Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anemia in the First Trimester of Pregnancy. Read for FREE at https://buff.ly/YYsy6DH

06/09/2025

Learning to use single use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for patients who are at high risk for surgical site infections.

In obstetrics, the main group would be those going for elective or emergency Caesarean sections when the BMI is >= 30 for Caucasians (possibly the equivalent of BMI >= 27 for Asians). There is some evidence to suggest that there is reduced surgical site infections when the device is used (6.6% compared to 8.3% with standard dressing). The main side effect is the higher incidence of blisters in the group that used the device (4.1% vs 1.4% with standard dressing).

23/08/2025

Spoke on CMV screening in pregnancy at the 13th Singapore International Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

In summary, we should screen for CMV at 12 weeks during pregnancy because it is the commonest vertically transmitted infection, is only associated with significant risk of damage to the fetus if infected during the first trimester of pregnancy or within 2 months prior to conception, and that valaciclovir (an antiviral medication) has been shown to reduce the risk of infection and damage to the fetus.

15/08/2025

Live Replay 🎥 “How soon can you try again after a miscarriage?”

After a miscarriage, it is common to be met with opinions, advice, or even blame - all of which can make the experience even more isolating. In our recent live session, Dr Tony Tan Tony Tan Women and Fetal Clinic offers a clearer understanding of why most miscarriages happen, and gently addresses the self-doubt many women carry after a loss so they can move forward with confidence.

If you or someone you love has been through this, watch the video to hear his perspective. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for more thoughtful conversations with our doctors. Have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Leave it in the comments 💬

15/08/2025

Live Replay 🎥 “Is age the only thing that makes pregnancy high risk?”

While age is a significant factor in determining pregnancy risk, it is far from the only one. Dr Tony Tan, specialist Obstetrician & Gynaecologist Tony Tan Women and Fetal Clinic at Mount Alvernia Hospital, breaks down how maternal age can influence the chances of miscarriage, chromosomal abnormalities, and stillbirth, but also reminds us that a healthy pregnancy is still very possible, even beyond 40.

Catch this highlight from our recent Live session, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for more insights from our healthcare professionals. Got a question or topic you want addressed next? Leave us a comment 💬

09/08/2025

Intravenous iron infusion vs oral iron for treatment of iron deficiency anaemia -
1) intravenous iron infusion (vs oral iron) results in correction of anaemia of more patients without further intravenous treatment
2) intravenous Ferinject (vs oral iron) results in less low birth weight babies - I have noticed in practice that some fetuses that are small for gestational age had increased growth velocity after intravenous iron treatment for iron deficiency

https://ow.ly/gkvg50WCp7Pnoeniinoll noi

Maternal iron deficiency anemia is a persistent global health challenge with increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. Obstetric guidelines advocate for first-line treatment of moderate iron deficiency anemia with twice-daily oral iron; however, rates of iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy remai...

31/07/2025

Celebrating Nurses’ Day by pretending that we are singers for 3 hrs.

25/07/2025

Clinic celebration of the birthday of the anaesthetist in the clinic.

22/07/2025

Differences between early and late pre-eclampsia.

AJOG Expert Review: Placenta at single-cell resolution in early and late preeclampsia: insights and clinical implications: Proposed classification of PE types I and II https://ow.ly/VBwu50WttIR