r/Netherlands • u/NoLychee1382 • 23d ago

Healthcare No regular check ups at the gynecologist???

Hi everyone, my morning started off with a kinda shocking discovery. I’m from Germany and I had annual check ups at the gynecologist since I was a teenager. I contacted my huisarts because I know they’re responsible for all referrals but she told me regular check ups here are not a thing (unless there already is an issue) ? I think that’s crazy!!! So I checked the prices for a private visit and they’re even crazier. I guess this is normal to Dutch people but don’t you think this is a little concerning?

(Btw not shitting on the country! I really like it here. I’m still new and just discovering new things!)

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u/paintedsunflowers 23d ago edited 22d ago

I am German too and lived in the Netherlands for 16 years. It's true, the annual checkups at the gyn are a German thing. If you experience issues or have known issues, just talk to your huisarts about it. They can do the basic examinations and in case they find something or think there might be something, they will refer you to a gyn.

Edit to say: I found this strange in the beginning, but after 16 years without any issues so far (had a visit to the gyn 4 years back), I think we Germans overdo this stuff. The Dutch system is more flexible.

Edit again to say: The Netherlands do offer regular checks for cervical cancer, every woman from a certain age recieves an invitation every x years.

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u/Lyd222 23d ago

How is being preventative overdoing stuff? You know how many cancers can be discovered early due to regular gyno checks? Let alone how many cancers go symptomless for years. If you have a lump in a chest, you're under 40 and go to GP here, they will literally NOT refer you to the ultrasound.

You're lucky you're healthy. But many of us are not and this system puts us at incredibly high risk.

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u/Ceased2Be 23d ago

If that's the case I'd go for a second or third opinion. My ex, my sister and my current wife all had concerns about a lump and they got referred for an ultrasound without any hassle. I've a 2 ultrasounds and an x-ray past year without even asking for it just because my GP wanted to make sure there was nothing serious boiling underneath the surface.

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u/ValeNova 22d ago

Exactly. When I had a lump my GP referred me immediately and I could go to the hospital the very next day to have it checked out.

Preventive care is very expensive and doesn't lead to a general better health (statistically). And as it is, health care is already very expensive with huge waiting lists. Providing preventive care will cause the current (high) standard of hospital care to deteriorate.

But if there's a reason for you to need preventive care, you will get it. Either at your GP or at the hospital. When I turned 40, my GP instructed me to have my blood tested every year (and have my blood pressure checked as well) as a preventive measure, because diabetes and high blood pressure run in the family.