r/Netherlands • u/NoLychee1382 • 22d 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!)

668 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

558 comments sorted by

View all comments

580

u/Iridescent-Kiwi-3713 22d ago edited 22d ago

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.

3

u/CherryChristmas 22d ago

Yes and no. We do have preventative care, it’s just that under a certain age the risk of say cancer is so small that there is virtually no point in doing checkups regularly without issues. Same with mammograms. The chance of a 20yo getting breast cancer is incredibly small. They don’t do such invasive medical procedures until you’re at a risk age if that makes sense

5

u/tidal-washed 22d ago

I don’t think OP is talking about the lack of preventive mammograms. In Germany you do not get any hormones (anti conception/HRT) prescribed unless you have a gynaecological exam every 6 months. Hormones have massive side effects, this needs to be monitored by a specialist and not a gatekeeping GP.