About Dr Kokum Jayasinghe
Kokum is a highly awarded fertility doctor with many years training and experience, including specialist training in obstetrics and gynaecology at the Mercy Hospital and subspecialty training in infertility and IVF at the Royal Women’s Hospital and Melbourne IVF. But her medical knowledge is only half the story. It was when Kokum faced her own fertility challenges that she really understood the journey her patients face, and her role in helping them achieve success.
Now, Kokum knows her first job is to listen. To understand each and every one of her patients’ unique situations, and then apply her medical and scientific knowledge to finding the right path for them, supporting them all the way.
Kokum holds public consultations at the Royal Women’s Hospital and Eastern Health in reproductive medicine and gynaecological surgery. She is also actively involved in training junior doctors in the field of reproductive medicine at the Royal Women’s Hospital, Eastern Health and RANZCOG.
Education & training
After being awarded the Australian Development Cooperation scholarship, I started my studies in Medicine at the University of Melbourne in 1995.
I completed my internship at St Vincent’s Hospital and shortly after joined the Mercy Hospital for Women to undertake specialist training in obstetrics and gynaecology. It was at this time that I had also received the DRANZCOG Gold Medal, signifying my excellence and achievements in the field of gynaecology.
I completed an additional two years of elective training at East Yorkshire (in England) as well as Box Hill Hospitals in Melbourne, and later joined the Royal Women’s Hospital and Melbourne IVF for subspecialty training in infertility and IVF treatments.
Currently, I hold public consultations at the Royal Women’s Hospital and Eastern Health in reproductive medicine and gynaecological surgery. I’m also actively involved in training junior doctors in the field of reproductive medicine at the Royal Women’s Hospital, Eastern Health and RANZCOG.
“Being a patient myself has moulded me into the doctor who I am today – bringing the gift of compassion and understanding, with the experience and knowledge after years of practice”
Dr Kokum Jayasinghe
My personal experience with infertility
Like many of my patients, I never thought I’d fall victim to the burdens of infertility. I was 30 years old when I realised I needed help to conceive.
Similarly with what many of my patients go through, I also felt low self esteem, guilt, anger, confusion, sadness, burdened with the failures of my previous pregnancy attempts and above all doubt that my doctor’s recommendations in treatment will work.
However, with the right support from my doctor and a hopeful mindset, I continued my IVF treatment and in the end had two beautiful sons who have both grown up to be healthy young boys – I couldn’t be more grateful or happier than I am today.
Even though my boys are still quite young and busily learning away at school, something that I’m most proud of seeing is their mature understanding of what I do in my job, and the amount of respect they’re developing for women as a result.
One of my sons has even asked me questions about conditions I help treat – like endometriosis – and I do my best to explain how it really can affect a woman’s life and those around her. Surely enough, I can see through these small conversations that my boys are developing a much stronger sense of respect for women and open-mindedness around these issues.
I hope that as a community, we’re also able to discuss openly and sensitively about topics like infertility and gynaecological issues – so that we’re able to reduce the stigma associated with infertility as well as create more positive or encouraging atmosphere for people to seek help without feeling ashamed or guilty.
My personal experience with infertility was such a life-changing event – and honestly has largely been what inspired me to further my training and practice in medicine to specialise in the field of gynaecology and fertility.
Although it was incredibly tough and difficult at the time dealing with the challenges of infertility, it’s helped me become the doctor that I am today. I absolutely love what I do and how I make a positive difference to my patient’s lives.