Dr Anneen Venter Obstetrician & Gynaecologist

24/10/2025

Here is one for the older ladies. Studies have shown that estrogen cream applied to the face can improve collagen, elasticity, wound healing and hydration whilst reducing fine lines and wrinkles. 👩🏻‍⚕️🧖🏻‍♀️

Data from this JAAD Brief Report suggests that topical estrogens may improve certain signs of skin aging: https://bit.ly/48K0UuG

18/10/2025

For those wondering how a mammogram works. In South Africa you receive your XRAY and report to keep safe. You should always take your previous films with you.

18/10/2025

15/10/2025

Today, 15 October, marks Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day a day of reflection, love, and remembrance for all babies lost through miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS, or infant death.

At Genesis Reproductive Centre, we stand with all families who have walked this painful path. We see your strength, we honour your loss, and we hold space for your healing.

Light a candle at 7pm in memory of the little lives that touched this world for only a moment, but changed it forever.

www.genesisart.co.za | 012 367 4378 | reception@genesisart.co.za

14/10/2025

This is such a tragic loss. Please parents lollipops are choking hazards. 🍭🍭🍭 Either keep your child under constant supervision or refrain from giving them lollipops. Also inform yourself on what to do if your baby/child is choking.

Incident Report – Infant Dies After Choking on a Lollipop in Menlo Park
Date: 13 October 2025

On Monday afternoon, shortly before 16:50, Old East Safety Forum Community Responders were dispatched to Menlo Park SuperSpar following reports of an unresponsive infant.

Upon arrival, responders found that the baby had been choking on a lollipop. The obstruction was successfully removed, and resuscitation efforts were immediately initiated.

Paramedics from Netcare911, Emer-G-Med, ProMed, and Pretoria Volunteer Emergency Services (PVES) arrived shortly thereafter and continued advanced life support interventions. Despite extensive efforts from all medical teams, the infant was sadly declared deceased on scene.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who responded and assisted during this tragic incident:
- Netcare911
- Emer-G-Med (Pty) Ltd
- Pro Med Emergency Medical Services
- Pretoria Volunteer Emergency Services
- Old East Safety Forum Community Responders
- SAPS (Brooklyn)
- Mon Ami Trauma Troops

06/10/2025

So what do you ladies think about this? A parental tag team for maternity leave. What will be the impact on breastfeeding? Do you guys think it can work?

The highest court in the land has ruled that dads and moms must share their parental leave days 👏🏾 Details in the comments.

Image: Catherine Falls Commercial

19/09/2025

Another sign of endometriosis is infertility. Up to 50% of patients with infertility have endometriosis. Some might be without pain.
# Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease in which cells similar to those lining the uterus are present outside of the uterus.

Endometriosis affects up to 10% of women of reproductive age worldwide, including nearly 9 million in the US.

This JAMA Patient Page describes endometriosis development, as well as its signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

https://ja.ma/3VRbZSS

18/09/2025

A brief video on the symptoms and signs of PCOS.

08/09/2025

Having your baby in a rear facing seat might be life saving if you are involved in a crash.

Facing Back to Move Forward - Why A Rear-Facing Car Seat is the Safer Way

https://tinyurl.com/27gqla9e

10/08/2025

Genesis Reproductive Centre is offering one IVF cycle free of charge. Please contact Jakaranda 94.2

Good Morning Angels has partnered with our friends at LottoStar to assist three women who need a little help.

13/07/2025

Gestational or pregnancy induced diabetes (GDM) affects 10-15% of pregnancies.
It is caused by the placenta secreting hormones that increase insulin resistance.

It is diagnosed by doing an oral glucose tolerance test. It involves taking blood for a fasting glucose, drinking 75g sugar mixed with water, and taking blood again after 1 and 2 hours of the drink. The test can make you feel nauseous and dizzy.

Very few ladies with GDM have symptoms.
Some feel tired or dizzy after eating. We can sometimes pick it up by finding glucose in the urine test or seeing a big baby with a lot of amniotic fluid on ultrasound.

It is associated with a higher risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery.
There is increased risk of
- stuctural abnormalities of the brain and heart
- stillbirth (almost 5 times higher risk)
- large for gestation babies
- preterm delivery
- pre eclampsia
The babies have higher risk of
- admission to the NICU
- jaundice
- respiratory distress

Patients should be screened between 20 and 24 weeks of pregnancy.

High risk factors include:
Age above 35 years
Pre pregnancy BMI above 25
PCOS or insulin resistance before pregnancy
Family history of diabetes

Management include;
1. Dietician to assist with low GI eating plan, with enough nutrients and kilojoules
2. Monitoring blood glucose (either by machine testing or using a glucose sensor)
3. Medication such as metformin or insulin

Control of blood glucose is crucial to prevent complications.
Patients who develop GDM have an increased lifetime risk of developing diabetes and insulin resistance. It is important to screen or test yearly after delivery.

📢We welcome you to read the Highly Cited Paper:

📰 Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Association with Maternal and Neonatal Complications
👍 Citations 23
✍ By Ms.Rebecca Karkia, Prof.Ranjit Akolekar et al.
🔗 Read the full article: https://shorturl.at/kbV8t

15/06/2025

This is a complex but very insightful article about PCOS. PCOS is not only a hormonal disturbance, with often higher testosterone levels and lower progesterone due to irregular ovulation.
It is also
> changes in your DNA, where some genes are switched on or off via methylation
> changes in your brain - insulin resistance changes how your brain responds to food cues, making you want to eat high sugar and high fat meals
> changes in your gut microbiome, worsened by food choices, influencing your mood and metabolism
And this leads to changes in your metabolic profile that makes you prone to insulin resistance, obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart disease (metabolic syndrome)

What stands out in this article:
> High fibre diet improves the beneficial bacteria in your gut (fruit, veg)
> Individualised exercise plan to focus on weight loss and muscle building
> Medical treatment for insulin resistance include metformin, inositol and GLP1

Babies born to mothers with PCOS are prone to childhood obesity, insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome.

Key message: Any patient, but especially if you have PCOS, should focus on their health before they want to conceive. This means - being a normal weight, exercising, not smoking or using alcohol, eating a fibre rich diet.
If a PCOS patient is in optimal health before they get pregnant then
> Less inflammation
> Easier to get pregnant
> Less miscarriages
> Less gestational diabetes
> Less pre eclampsia, growth restriction, preterm birth
> Less long term effects on the health of the children born (obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome)

# PCOS

📝Hot Opinion by Dr. Tao Tao. et al from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine:
"Polycystic O***y Syndrome: Challenges and Possible Solutions"
📩Full text: https://bit.ly/456Et0T