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vaginapagina2012-03-24 05:26 pm
sabishii-kirito.livejournal.com) wrote in vaginapagina2012-03-24 05:26 pm
Gyno visit in Japan
I've seen quite a few negative comments about gynecologists in Japan, but after avoiding going myself for almost three years... I finally got off my butt and went. And, surprisingly, it was much better than I could have hoped, outside of one problem. Maybe it'll be helpful for any exchange students or others living here who are worried about culture shock?
First off, I don't know medical Japanese, so I was sure to bring a note I had written earlier with all of my symptoms. The staff didn't speak English, though I'm not really close to a larger city, so that's to be expected.
Like most other medical offices I've been to in Japan, this clinic had walk ins for most of their working hours. New patients are required to do a brief questionnaire, mostly with typical questions you could expect anywhere (have you been pregnant, normal cycle length, why you're there today, etc).
I went on a Saturday, so the number of doctors was limited. There was a female doctor in obstetrics, and a male doctor in gynecology. There wasn't an option to request a female doctor as it was segregated by division, which... I was uncomfortable with at first. I suppose that if you make an appointment you may be able to request a specific doctor, but as this is the only ob/gyn in my area and Saturdays are the only day I can go, there wasn't really an option.
When I was called into the consultation room, I spoke with the doctor who was going to do the pap test. He was much friendlier than most doctors I've seen here, and he explained everything that he would do (though briefly).
I then had to go to an examination room, which had by far the most high tech gyno equipment I have ever seen. It was much smaller than what I was used to in the states, and there was a huge chair that looked like it was from a dentist's office. No idea if these are common anywhere, else but back home I'd only ever seen the table+stirrup set ups.
Anyway, the seat itself was short (it protruded maybe about 10 inches). Sit down, put legs into compartments that look like something from a massage chair. Doctor pushes a button and BAM! Chair goes back, the leg compartments spread everything open, and the bottom of the seat drops down so the doctor can check everything out. (Is this a normal thing?!) I was still pretty anxious, but there was a privacy screen, which made the fact that a male doctor was poking and prodding around a lot less uncomfortable.
There was no manual exam. I had mentioned my cramps, a few cysts and an irregular period, so they did a trans vag ultrasound to make sure that things were ok physically. It was pretty uneventful.
Then he did the pap test... Which was... I never like pap smears because they make me nauseous. The swabbing for BV and whatnot was barely noticeable, but it seemed like more was being done near my cervix than what they do in the States. I found out why when the doctor told me that they had put a tampon in to prevent bleeding.
This was the one problem I had. I figure it's just a big difference of medical culture, but I wasn't particularly happy about having a tampon shoved in me without having been asked. The last thing I really want right after having my cervix scraped is a wad of cotton being shoved in my vag. That said, it was pretty much the smallest tampon I have ever seen (it was only about 1.5 inches long and only about as big around as my pinky), so it wasn't as bad as removing a regular tampon when you're not on your period.
The trans vag and everything turned out ok, so they decided to do some blood tests (including a pregnancy test) to make sure that there isn't any other underlying reason for my recent problems. They also gave me two kinds of medicine that should help with my cramps, which is awesome since I'm running out of the naproxen that I brought. I get my test results next week, which is much faster than my doctor back home was with tests.
And to top it all off, with national insurance the cost was only about $60 for everything. The last time I went to a gynecologist back home, it was $100 just for the pap smear, plus about $60 for the appointment itself. Even without insurance, the cost of my appointment today would have only been about the same as a pap smear in America, so I'm pretty relieved that half of my pay this month didn't disappear after having so many different tests done.
TLDR: Gynecologists in Japan aren't any worse than they are anywhere else, and tests are super cheap if you're used to American medical costs. (Also, really cool chairs.)
First off, I don't know medical Japanese, so I was sure to bring a note I had written earlier with all of my symptoms. The staff didn't speak English, though I'm not really close to a larger city, so that's to be expected.
Like most other medical offices I've been to in Japan, this clinic had walk ins for most of their working hours. New patients are required to do a brief questionnaire, mostly with typical questions you could expect anywhere (have you been pregnant, normal cycle length, why you're there today, etc).
I went on a Saturday, so the number of doctors was limited. There was a female doctor in obstetrics, and a male doctor in gynecology. There wasn't an option to request a female doctor as it was segregated by division, which... I was uncomfortable with at first. I suppose that if you make an appointment you may be able to request a specific doctor, but as this is the only ob/gyn in my area and Saturdays are the only day I can go, there wasn't really an option.
When I was called into the consultation room, I spoke with the doctor who was going to do the pap test. He was much friendlier than most doctors I've seen here, and he explained everything that he would do (though briefly).
I then had to go to an examination room, which had by far the most high tech gyno equipment I have ever seen. It was much smaller than what I was used to in the states, and there was a huge chair that looked like it was from a dentist's office. No idea if these are common anywhere, else but back home I'd only ever seen the table+stirrup set ups.
Anyway, the seat itself was short (it protruded maybe about 10 inches). Sit down, put legs into compartments that look like something from a massage chair. Doctor pushes a button and BAM! Chair goes back, the leg compartments spread everything open, and the bottom of the seat drops down so the doctor can check everything out. (Is this a normal thing?!) I was still pretty anxious, but there was a privacy screen, which made the fact that a male doctor was poking and prodding around a lot less uncomfortable.
There was no manual exam. I had mentioned my cramps, a few cysts and an irregular period, so they did a trans vag ultrasound to make sure that things were ok physically. It was pretty uneventful.
Then he did the pap test... Which was... I never like pap smears because they make me nauseous. The swabbing for BV and whatnot was barely noticeable, but it seemed like more was being done near my cervix than what they do in the States. I found out why when the doctor told me that they had put a tampon in to prevent bleeding.
This was the one problem I had. I figure it's just a big difference of medical culture, but I wasn't particularly happy about having a tampon shoved in me without having been asked. The last thing I really want right after having my cervix scraped is a wad of cotton being shoved in my vag. That said, it was pretty much the smallest tampon I have ever seen (it was only about 1.5 inches long and only about as big around as my pinky), so it wasn't as bad as removing a regular tampon when you're not on your period.
The trans vag and everything turned out ok, so they decided to do some blood tests (including a pregnancy test) to make sure that there isn't any other underlying reason for my recent problems. They also gave me two kinds of medicine that should help with my cramps, which is awesome since I'm running out of the naproxen that I brought. I get my test results next week, which is much faster than my doctor back home was with tests.
And to top it all off, with national insurance the cost was only about $60 for everything. The last time I went to a gynecologist back home, it was $100 just for the pap smear, plus about $60 for the appointment itself. Even without insurance, the cost of my appointment today would have only been about the same as a pap smear in America, so I'm pretty relieved that half of my pay this month didn't disappear after having so many different tests done.
TLDR: Gynecologists in Japan aren't any worse than they are anywhere else, and tests are super cheap if you're used to American medical costs. (Also, really cool chairs.)
no subject
I live in Japan and speak the language, but I have to admit to having reservations about going to a gyno here. It sounds like you had an overall positive experience. I'm just worried because a friend went to a gyno here to get the pill, and when she looked up the pill he gave her online it was for period pain, and would in no way prevent pregnancy. Also, a friend wanted her implanon out desperately and the doctor she went to had to look up a video on youtube to find out how to remove it. Stuff like that puts me off. Also there is very much a "do not question the doctor"/"the doctor does not need to explain himself to you" mentality here that bothers me.
no subject
Medical Tests
Sorry to hear from Oegao about western women being pressured to keep quiet and still during labour (extremely difficult!)
I, too, find pap tests very difficult. The right medical staff make a huge difference. I have encountered mysogynistic male doctors in that role and they sure can make one suffer.
no subject
Maybe I just got lucky with this place, but now I'm wishing I had gone earlier because it wasn't as bad as I expected.
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no subject
I had a gyn who didn't know what the CDC was, or when I asked her was LSIL meant she said "look it up." c_c;
The tampon thing is weird though...
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I guess I'm just rambling! Thanks for posting this; I'm filing it away just in case.
no subject
Can someone please explain why so many people feel nervous about going to doctor's in Japan? Any ideas behind why the culture is the way it is? Cultural differences are really fascinating to me and I would love to learn more!
no subject
Let's say you have a condition that you need medication for and you always had X prescribed for it in your home country. X may not even be legal or available in Japan, and if it is, it's only available to be prescribed for a specific purpose. For example, I tried to get some diflucan at the gyn. She acted like I was crazy for asking for it since it was prescribed as an anti-fungal for the intestine; not as a YI drug. She also told me the reason I had a YI was because I didn't use a special Japanese toilet (the "washlet" that has an automatic bidet on it). I also explained to her that I never used a washlet in the US and never got a YI there; she was amazed at the comment (I've heard a lot of stories from my friends being told that YIs happen "because you are dirty" and they just need continual douching to treat it).
Another reason is that many doctors TELL you what's wrong and they don't LISTEN to you. If you are the patient, then your argument in invalid. Period. That's very strong in the culture here.