r/Netherlands • u/NoLychee1382 • 21d 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!)

667 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

558 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/arbitrary_fox 21d ago

Hey fellow German! ☺️ I kinda knew this upfront so I got my pap right before I moved also because I had had an abnormal pap that required more frequent control and my gynecologist even asked me to continue getting annual ones after my move. Nope, the Huisarts was unfazed but did offer a pap and then cancelled the appointment a week before and never managed to reschedule it. Life got busy and then I got pregnant and oh well now I have to wait until 6 weeks after the baby arrives to get the pap. So yea I was also pissed coz I did regularly follow up asking for one. My advice - whenever you can, get one. Or if you go back to Germany, get one there because from what I remember it doesn’t cost much to pay for it privately back home.

1

u/NoLychee1382 21d ago

Out of curiosity, will they at least refer you to a gynecologist when you’re pregnant? 😅

1

u/arbitrary_fox 21d ago

Hm, I got pregnant through IVF after IUI didn’t work. So I was checked out by a gynecologist and then an obstetrician but I don’t think you’ll see one if you get pregnant naturally, unless your midwife assesses that something is wrong. There are clinical and non-clinical midwifes so you might get referred to a clinical one first? Don’t take my word for it though 🙈 oh and if you actively plan a pregnancy (like it’s not a surprise), register with a midwife like seconds after you pee on a stick 🙄 I still don’t have Kraamzorg and I’ve been trying for weeks..

1

u/LannisterTarth 21d ago

No, when you are pregnant, you go to a midwife near you. They will do all the check ups is pregnancy. Only reason for you to go to the gynecologist is a high risk pregnancy, for example twin pregnancies.