What is it like working as a sexual wellness doctor in Singapore?

The sexual wellness space is riddled with taboos and negative connotations. In our Destigmatising Desire series, three women tell us how they’re paving the way for more open and informed discussions about sex.

As the owner and medical director of Insync Medical, an inclusive clinic for intimate sexual healthcare, Dr Jessherin Sidhu is driven by the mission to provide individuals with a dignified approach to sexual health.

Her clinic is a safe and inclusive space for everyone, addressing a wide range of sexual health concerns without judgment.

Dr. Sidhu takes a holistic approach, recognising the emotional and psychological aspects of sexual health. She's actively involved in community engagement, reducing stigma, and educating people about sexual wellness. While challenges persist, the rewards of improving patients' quality of life are immeasurable.

Here, the doctor tells us how she's breaking down barriers, fostering an inclusive environment, and reshaping societal attitudes towards sexual health.

Q: What sparked your interest in pursuing this career?

Dr Jessherin Sidhu (JS): When I first began my career in the private general practitioner (GP) setting nine years ago, I was working in a sexual health clinic, where my work was reduced to managing Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and andrology (men’s health primarily dealing with erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation).

I thought to myself that this could not possibly be the full spectrum of what sexual health meant. What about women and their day to day concerns around overall sexual satisfaction? What about issues concerning sexual desire, lubrication, and pain, across different life stages of adolescence, pregnancy and menopause?

It was almost like a moment of epiphany for me, considering that I too had struggled with issues concerning my own sexual health and, at that time, had no trusted professional to turn to. I just powered through the pain I experienced. People need a self-respecting way to deal with their sexual health issues that go well beyond STIs. And that’s what piqued my curiosity in the field of sexual medicine.

Q: What steps did you take to acquire the necessary expertise and qualifications for this career path?

JS: Sexual medicine is unique in the sense that it requires a professional to gain skill sets in psychology, gynaecology, urology, physiotherapy and sexology, on top of the background qualification as a doctor. I hold a degree in Medicine, and I sat the only exam currently available internationally in the field of sexual medicine to gain my qualification as a Fellow of the European Committee of Sexual Medicine (FECSM). I have certifications with the European Society of Aesthetic Gynaecology (ESAG), and trained in both Dubai and the Philippines to perform aesthetics procedures, such as lightening or hyaluronic acid fillers, to the genitalia. Gaining expertise in the field of medicine and sexual medicine is always an ongoing process.

Q: How would you describe your typical day-to-day responsibilities and tasks?

JS: No two days are similar. In a typical long 12-hour day that I run the clinic, I see a maximum of maybe 18 patients. I spend anywhere between half an hour to 1.5 hours with each patient, taking detailed histories from them, such as their sexual repertoire, first sexual debut, current sexual dysfunctions, ideal sexual scene, in-built sexual narratives/scripts and also the “non-vanilla” sexual preferences they might have. I work together with them to figure out the biological, hormonal, social, cultural, relationships – both interpersonal and intrapsychic – that contribute to their current sexual concerns. 

It's not all talk; a good portion of my days in the clinic is also occupied with procedures. This can range from inserting intrauterine devices (IUD) for contraception to doing aesthetic procedures to the genitalia and intimate areas. For example, on average I do about two to three chemical peels daily, for men and women who desire lightening of the genital and inner thigh areas. I also do hyaluronic acid fillers to the labia. In my practice, I also run pelvic floor physical therapy for my patients with vaginismus. These women have hypertonic or spasmed pelvic floor muscles that make penetrative sexual intercourse painful or impossible.

Q: Was there a pivotal moment in your career that affirmed your decision to focus on sexual health?

JS: There wasn’t one pivotal moment, but many that brought me to this point in my journey. There was a lot of initial hesitation where I questioned whether this medical service was what people in Singapore and the region wanted. If they knew it existed, would they feel motivated enough to see me, considering many people still view sexual wellness as taboo?

Turns out, I discovered that there is such a need. There are many little magic moments that continue to reaffirm the work that my team and I do: When I receive overwhelming gratitude from a couple who were finally able to conceive naturally, thank you e-mails for making discussing intimate issues a comfortable process, and news about a post-cancer patient managing to regain sexual confidence.

Q: The impact of your work extends beyond medical treatments. How do you balance being an advocate and healthcare provider?

JS: As a doctor, your role in this day and age is no longer just that of a clinician within the confines of your consultation room. As a strong advocate of sex positivity, self-pleasure, and normalising conversations around sexual health, my role encompasses educating clients to embrace their perspectives of sex in a positive, inclusive, and mindful manner.

I spend two days every month producing videos for online educational content about sexual health and wellness. I also run workshops, and work together with brands that are sex positive, be it sexual wellness, menstrual health, telehealth platforms, or menopause- focused start-ups.

This has also led to my partnership as the Singapore ambassador of Lelo, a global femtech brand at the forefront of the sexual well-being movement. Our shared mission is to continue to drive change in the sexual landscape in Singapore and beyond, by normalising the beauty of loving oneself, and radically changing the way that people perceive and talk about self-pleasure.

Q: In a field that's still evolving, staying at the forefront of knowledge is crucial. How do you engage in professional development and stay informed about the latest trends and breakthroughs in sexual medicine?

JS: Staying abreast through my memberships with international institutions like the International Society or Sexual Medicine (ISSM) and attending yearly meetings where sexual medicine updates are discussed, new interventional strategies are presented and the voice of peers from various fields (sexologist, psychologist, Urologist or gynaecologist, pelvic floor physiotherapist, etc) are heard. Best of all, the global networking that these events and workshops permit allows me to have a network of professionals I can turn to help me better manage my patients. Sex tech and Femtech deserve its own mention here. I am an enthusiast in both these fields of technology. Just being in the know within these fields gives me opportunities to potentially utilise the emerging tech in the work that I do.

My partnership with Lelo gives me access to the latest in technology and trends in the sexual wellness industry. They have versatile products made for all genders, customised at different intensities for different erogenous zones – it’s a great tool that I often use in various stages of my practice depending on a patients’ needs. Their latest launch, the SONA™ 2 Travel, is a palm-sized, discreet clitoral massager. It’s small but doesn’t compromise on power, using sonic wave technology to stimulate the entire clitoral area.