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Netherlands Women Health Information
– Reported, February 04, 2012
In the Netherlands, everyone must have health insurance (ziektekostenverzekering) and be registered with a general practitioner (huisarts). There are very few private practices for gynecologists, so you will need to be properly registered for a referral from your GP.
If you have private insurance, you can change your gynecologist after your GP makes a referral. There are, however, no guarantees that same person will see you again for your next appointment but you can always ask. Finally, recommendations from family or friends are always worth noting down.
Routine check-ups are not the norm in the Netherlands. Women have pap smears every five years and those over 35 get a mammography every two years. There are no regular screenings for different types of cancer.
If you have a previous history with a gynecological condition (e.g. an ovarian cyst), itís recommended that you pass your medical records on to your GP for a full assessment.
For specialist treatment or tests, you will need a referral note from your GP. Always be clear about your symptoms, your level of discomfort etc, as you cannot approach a specialist directly. GPs will only issue referrals in cases they cannot treat themselves, opting for the typically Dutch approach to medical care, that is more natural and non-interventionist. Also note that waiting times for specialist appointments vary greatly between types of surgery and treatments.
In the case of pregnancy it is not common that a gynecologist checks a Dutch woman after the age of 30, even if sheís pregnant with her first child. As an international resident, you can expect occasional check-ups during pregnancy, until the day of delivery, unless you request otherwise. This is common whether you choose a midwife or gynecologist as your primary caregiver.
You may also be invited for a national preventive health check for one of the following:
Cervical cancer (once every five years for women aged 30-60)
Breast cancer (every two years for women aged 50-75)
Influenza puncture (for the elderly)
Hereditary high cholesterol level
Pregnancy screening, heel puncture, hearing test
Participation is voluntary. The screening is also free of charge.
Compared to other countries, the Netherlands has a low abortion rate. Abortions are legal here and are performed as outpatient surgery at licensed clinics and hospitals until approximately 24 weeks into pregnancy. Though abortions are rarely performed after the 22-week mark. Your GP will refer you to a specialist for which your health insurance company will cover you. This being the case, you may be required to answer a series of questions, as per policy protocol.
According to Randstad, itís estimated that approximately 40% of Dutch women aged 15-30 use the pill. Another 5-10% of patients also use IUDs but diaphragms are the least popular choice of birth control methods. All forms of contraception are available by prescription from your GP The average life expectancy of men is shorter that women’s in Netherlands : in 1996 the difference was 5,7 years (women 80,4, men 74,7).Chronic diseases, physical impairments, mental problems, and multimorbidity are all more common under women than under men. Partly this is related to the fact that women live longer than men.
The average age for women to give birth to their first child is relatively high in the Netherlands. Currently this was around 29 years. It has been suggested that this is the cause of reduced fertility of many women.
Currently a number of self help organizations exist, centered around certain health problems such as menopausal complaints, mastopathy and gynaecological cancer. These organizations provide information, advice and support for women.
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