Dr Relebogile Sekele

27/04/2026

There's a moment every new mother experiences. You're cradling your baby in one arm, and somehow, the other hand is making tea, answering emails, opening parcels and possibly solving a Rubik's cube. All without missing a beat.

Becoming a mum unlocks a superpower nobody warned you about: extreme one-handedness.

Suddenly, you can butter toast, type a work email, fish keys out of a handbag and pour a glass of wine — all with a baby balanced on your hip. Tasks that once required both hands and full concentration now happen on autopilot, while the other arm stays permanently engaged in the most important job of your life.

I watch new mums walk into my rooms every week, juggling a nappy bag, a pram, a toddler and a phone... and still managing to wave hello. They've joined the club. The unspoken sisterhood of women who can do almost anything one-handed.

So here's to every mum mastering the art. You're not just coping — you're quietly becoming a magician.

(Don't worry. Your other hand will be free again one day. Probably around year 18.)

21/04/2026

People sometimes ask why I chose obstetrics alongside gynaecology. Why add the exhaustion, the unpredictable hours, the weight of responsibility that comes with bringing new life into the world?

The honest answer is that nothing else compares.

There's a particular quiet that settles over a delivery room in the moments before a baby arrives. Then, that first cry – and with it, a family is transformed. I have watched mothers meet their children hundreds of times, and it never becomes ordinary.

But obstetrics has taught me something gynaecology alone couldn't. Resilience. The way women gather every resource they have, physical and otherwise, to labour through something enormous. I'm often humbled by my patients.

I carry a phone that rings at any hour. It's inconvenient, yes. It's also a privilege. Somewhere, a woman I've cared for through pregnancy is now at the most vulnerable, powerful moment of her life.

Pregnancy and birth are not just medical events. They are among the most profound experiences of a woman's life, and they deserve a clinician who understands both their complexity and their sacredness.

17/04/2026

Of all the symptoms accompanying menopause, vaginal atrophy is perhaps the least discussed – yet it affects up to half of postmenopausal women.

As oestrogen levels decline, vaginal tissue becomes thinner, drier, and less elastic. This leads to discomfort, itching, painful in*******se, and increased susceptibility to urinary tract infections. Unlike hot flushes, which often improve over time, vaginal atrophy tends to worsen without treatment.

What saddens me is how many women suffer silently, assuming this is an inevitable part of ageing. It isn't. Effective treatments exist – from local oestrogen preparations that carry minimal systemic risk to non-hormonal options and vaginal laser treatments like FemiLift.

The conversation might feel awkward, but I promise you – I discuss this daily. There's no embarrassment in my consulting room, only solutions.

If dryness, discomfort, or recurrent UTIs are affecting your quality of life, please don't wait. This is treatable.

Vaginal atrophy doesn't get the attention it deserves. If menopausal changes are affecting your comfort and intimacy, let's discuss solutions that work for you.

📞 011 842 7631
💬 WhatsApp: 076 013 6859
🌐 www.drsekelegynae.co.za

10/04/2026

Perimenopause before 45 catches many women off guard. You're nowhere near "menopause age" in your mind, yet your body is already beginning its transition.

These symptoms are telling you that ovarian function is starting to decline. Oestrogen levels fluctuate unpredictably – sometimes higher than normal, sometimes dramatically lower. This hormonal turbulence explains the irregular cycles, surprise hot flushes, and mood changes.

For some women, perimenopause is brief and mild. For others, it can last a decade with significant symptoms. Neither experience is abnormal.

What matters is recognition and management. Confirming perimenopause through clinical assessment and blood tests where helpful. Discussing symptom management options. Addressing contraception (yes, pregnancy is still possible during perimenopause). Supporting bone and cardiovascular health during this transition.

You're not imagining these changes, and you're not "too young" for perimenopause.

📞 011 842 7631
💬 WhatsApp: 076 013 6859
🌐 www.drsekelegynae.co.za

05/04/2026

Time with the people you love is never time wasted. Wishing you a meaningful Easter weekend.

02/04/2026

This myth – rooted in a single, later-critiqued study from 2002 – has caused millions of women to suffer menopausal symptoms unnecessarily.

Here's what we now know: Combined HRT (oestrogen plus progestogen) is associated with a slightly increased breast cancer risk with long-term use. However, this risk is small – comparable to the risk associated with being overweight or drinking two glasses of wine daily.

For women experiencing severe menopausal symptoms, the quality-of-life benefits of HRT often substantially outweigh this small risk. Additionally, HRT offers protective benefits for bones and cardiovascular health when started early in menopause.

The decision is individual, considering your symptoms, risk factors, and preferences. But fear shouldn't automatically exclude an effective treatment.

27/03/2026

A year of trying without success. It's the benchmark we use to define when investigation is warranted – though for women over 35, we recommend assessment after just six months.

The emotional weight of this journey is immense. Monthly hope followed by disappointment. The questions that intrude: Is something wrong? Will this ever happen?

Fertility assessment provides answers. For women, we evaluate ovulation, hormonal function, tubal patency, and uterine factors. For partners, semen analysis is essential.

Sometimes we find a clear explanation – PCOS, blocked tubes, hormonal imbalances. Sometimes everything appears normal (unexplained infertility), which is frustrating but also hopeful.

Whatever the findings, knowing is better than wondering. And for many couples, relatively simple interventions restore fertility.

If you've reached this point, please don't delay seeking help. Time matters in fertility, and assessment is the first step toward solutions.

📞 011 842 7631
💬 WhatsApp: 076 013 6859
🌐 www.drsekelegynae.co.za

23/03/2026

An ovarian cyst diagnosis can feel alarming, but most are completely harmless. Understanding the difference between concerning and benign helps ease unnecessary anxiety. Here's what you need to know.

21/03/2026

From our practice to your home – a joyful and peaceful Eid Mubarak to all those celebrating.

19/03/2026

The wait between possible conception and confirmation can feel endless. Understanding how pregnancy tests work helps manage expectations.

Home pregnancy tests detect human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine. This hormone appears after implantation, typically 6-12 days after conception. Levels then double approximately every 48 hours.

Most tests are highly accurate from the first day of your missed period. "Early detection" tests claim sensitivity a few days before, though their reliability increases as hCG rises.

For the most accurate result: test with first morning urine, follow instructions precisely, and wait the full time before reading results. If negative but your period still doesn't arrive, retest in a few days.

Blood tests at our practice can detect pregnancy earlier and quantify hCG levels if needed.

📞 011 842 7631
💬 WhatsApp: 076 013 6859
🌐 www.drsekelegynae.co.za

18/03/2026

Some consultations require no medical expertise – just presence. A woman sits across from me, having just lost a pregnancy she desperately wanted. What she needs isn't statistics or explanations. She needs to be seen.

Pregnancy loss touches my practice more often than people may realise. Women often suffer silently, unsure how to grieve something they'd barely announced.

I've learned that the most powerful thing I can offer isn't always a treatment plan. Sometimes it's acknowledgment. "I'm sorry. This is a loss. Your grief is valid."

After the tears, practical questions emerge. Why did this happen? Will it happen again? Can I try again? These deserve thoughtful answers too.

But first – acknowledgment. First – space to feel.

🌐 www.drsekelegynae.co.za

16/03/2026