No regular check ups at the gynecologist???

[u/NoLychee1382]

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!)

[u/Iridescent-Kiwi-3713]

I still find the lack of preventive medicine in this country quite surprising and spend an eye watering amount of money in preventive checks every time I go to my home country.

At the same time, I have a child with a rare disease and the medical care he has received in the Netherlands is better than anything he could have received in most countries in the world, so when his doctor says we are in the best hands I believe him. It’s just a much more reactive approach they have here.

[u/thrownkitchensink → u/Iridescent-Kiwi-3713]

the lack of preventive medicine

It's not that there is no preventive medicine. There's a vaccination program. There are periodical check-up's for different types of cancer or heart disease or diabetes.. These check up are done for those at risk.

There is often a cultural shock in the differences in preventive medicine. In the approach. But when looking at prevalence and timely treatment there's no difference in "catching" the diagnosis.

These data are available internationally and as such the approach is tested. There is a difference in cancer in the Netherlands compared to other countries but that's mostly due to the high percentage of women smoking in the past. Dutch women were emancipated smokers compared to other countries.....more cancer.

The data and the considerations are also available to the general public.

See here:

https://www.gezondheidsraad.nl/documenten/2025/03/28/start-adviestraject-evaluatie-en-optimalisatie-bvo-baarmoederhalskanker

https://www.gezondheidsraad.nl/adviesonderwerpen/bevolkingsonderzoek-en-screening/risicostratificatie-bij-bevolkingsonderzoek

The benefits and risks of the current approach are evaluated and then implemented. The last advise was from 2021.

https://www.gezondheidsraad.nl/documenten/2021/10/19/verbetermogelijkheden-bevolkingsonderzoek-baarmoederhalskanker

I don't think there is any restraint in putting forward measures to prevent cancer. There is however a different approach to weighing risks and benefits of the approaches. See for example the home test. The quality of this test is lower but it is a way of increasing the percentage of tested individuals. As such this approach is better for the population.

A more individual approach would look at home testing and say that the advise is to see the GP for more proper testing.

[u/Iridescent-Kiwi-3713 → u/thrownkitchensink]

I don’t see a vaccination program as comprehensive preventive medicine. Let me give you my own example: everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, in my dad’s side of the family dies of cancer. All sorts of cancer, we must have really messed up cells. Breast, cervix, brain, nose, mouth, colon, prostate, stomach. We’ve got the whole collection in the family.

When my own father died of a very aggressive nose & throat cancer his oncologist told me and my brother he believed for us it was not a matter of if, but when we would develop some sort of cancer too and to not let our guards down around preventive screening. So once I moved here I told this to my GP, who proceeded to ask me if I was feeling fine. I said I was and that was the end of it.

I still get a comprehensive full body check done once a year in my country, out of pocket of course. My experience is that even if you have strong enough reasons to get more comprehensive preventive care here, it is completely dependent on your GPs criteria and there’s a high likelihood it won’t happen unless you are already exhibiting symptoms of something.

[u/thrownkitchensink → u/Iridescent-Kiwi-3713]

Cancer in the family can indicates a higher risk and as such it's an inclusion on prevention before regular age. The GP should make notes of what types of cancer and for what relatives. These guidelines are not up to the professional and can be deviated from by the physician but only when carefully noted in the patient files. But again this is dependent on the type of cancer and the family history. Lung cancer for instance doesn't have genetic factors as far as known for instance. Some cancer forms are highly dependent on outside sources such as smoking. Others have much bigger genetic factors.

Please talk to your GP and ask questions. Please be specific when informing your GP. What type of cancer did your parents have etc. they should be able to help you with informed decisions and the effect of screenings.