to wonder why American women go to the gynaecologist so much, and whether we should to?

[Ribbet]

Do they really have regular check ups or is it something I've seen on TV, just for routine smears, contraception and those services we use GPs/ practice nurses for? And if they do go more often, do US women have better gynaecological health Han those of us in the UK?

Han = than. Damn you unspecified mobile device made by a fruity sounding company.

And 'to', 'too'. I give up

I think it's probably the same as it is in South Africa - or at least similar. I lived there most of my adult life, and when I moved to the UK, I couldn't believe that there weren't really such things as 'gynaecologists' who you saw regularly - at least not on the NHS.

I went at least once a year: a smear, contraceptive advice, breast checks, and anything that was 'incidental', i.e. thrush or irregular bleeding.

I actually feel a little bereft without one now.

Don't they also douche a lot and spray their vaginas with some kind of deodrant?

Its not just tv. My American friends go all the time and were aghast when I said I don't have a gynaecologist. Couldn't really get an idea from them why though, apart from smear tests.

My SIL who now lives in America goes regularly - ie once or twice a year. Seems to be the norm.l

I always thought this was a TV thing. I live in Canada and my GP does all regular "Lady Admin." (pap smears once a year). You're referred to an OB/GYN for pregnancy or specific female issues.

they also take their children to see the paediatrician for everything. It's the over medicalisation of everything there. By contrast my American friends are full of wonder at the idea of midwives who come to your house to visit your new baby every day for ten days after birth and health visitors as a concept altogether. The fact that mine were rubbish is neither here nor there.

They are over-medicalised and over-specialised with not enough primary healthcare or public health focus. We are the other way round.

I have never felt the need for an OB/GYN as they call it.

In America, I don't think there are GP's like there are in the UK. Drs tend to be more specialised in a certain area.

I go to the OB/GYN for my annual pap smear. It's the norm here, ditto pediatricians for children.

Our smears are only every 3 years unless abnormalities are detected

Once a year is normal, for smear, birth control and general check. I was shocked that there aren't reproductive endicronologists in the UK for fertility problems.

In the us, generally you have a primary care physician (like a GP) who you see for general problems. People usually have an annual physical examination - women have this done by a gynaecologist who does a smear, breast check, and sorts out related issues.

Children have a paediatrician instead of a pcp unless you go to a family dr & all see the same dr.

Do they have lower rates of cervical cancer/gynae probs or unwanted pregnancy as a result though ?

Is there any evidence that these extra checks do anything (other than ensure an income for the Docs) ?

In Asia you had to choose your gynae when pregnant and have a paediatrician for the kids so it's not just the states. I suspect they go too overboard as it's private and lucrative and that we go too much the other way to save the NHS money.

No, the evidence suggests it doesn't make any difference.

From watching TV it seems that a priveledged (sp?) and rich few are 'over tested' and the poor are left to their fate.

Everything is so over-medicalised there.

Ive got American friends on fb who are constantly posting for "p and pt" because they have to have a CAT scan, MRI, some other procedure for reasons unbeknown to man. Ive never actually seen any of them diagnosed with anything.
The other thing they seem to do is rush their children to the ped for every single sniffle, cough, vomiting and diahorrea- the amount of times their children have had strep or some other disease is beyond me! Their children only need to fart and they get taken to the ped! The ped also does annual check ups.

Same in Germany - you see the doctor who is best placed to treat your problem. Kids have peadiatricians, I have a 'frauenarzt' womens doctor, you can also have a GP/Hausarzt if you want - or just self refer to whoever treats the particular thing you want looking at.

It's an insurance based system here.

Oh and I see the Ob/Gyn annually too for a smear/well woman check.

Has it got anything to do with the health insurance companies i.e is prevention cheaper than cure, so maybe regular checkups are a condition of the insurance?

I'm not sure all Americans rush their children to the paediatrician for every sniffle.

Provision of Care vfor those on low incomes varies greatly from state to state & similarly insurance policies vary in what & how much they'll cover.

That's true, John - I have had the pediatrician remark that he doesn't see us very often.

Having an annual appointment for smear, birth control etc seems perfect. Less time consuming and focuses the mind,

money... as a doctor you run your own company, and if you do the smear you get paid one hell of a lot more than a nurse would, so you save on a nurse and pocket the profit, also, their are way too many Drs in the USA, many arn't worth the money they are paid, look at the use of incompetent well meaning doctor used for comic effect in American TV.
A lot of Americans are so paranoid about heath they happily undergo useless treatment/tests, just because if the doctor has done something, then they must good.
Nothing I had or my children had was any better in the US care system than I had experienced in the UK and in many ways it was worse, have you ever had a doctor attempt to examine you in front of the entire A and E waiting room? I watched the doctor do this to every patient in our local hospital, before I saw him, he had a nurse with him and I refused to comply until he pulled the curtains.

the myth of choice, yes if the doctor you want to see accepts your healthcare insurance or even have any, I ws amazed how many seemingly middle class people didn't have healthcare, the lady next door to me as 42 and couldn't get health insurance for her and her 8 year old, because she had major bowel surgery and her son (8) had CP, the other son (6) did have health insurance, and she battled for 3 years to get a simple squint sorted out for him.
she didnt qualify for medicare due to her home so basically she was waiting for one of them to get ill and she would loose it all.

she was in touch recently she has started nurse training because if she can get a position following she will get HI though work, although it is not unknown for hospitals to sack staff when they are ill, therefore cancelling their HI.

She has also given up custody of her children as her exH has health insurance through his clinic, he is a doctor.

and we are sleep walking into this fantastic system, if you are moaning about
cuts to benefits now, just wait until you can't get HI because you are ill or can't afford it, because it is seriously expensive.

My friend was very critical of my GP who didnt rush dc3 off for an MRI scan - for something that turned out to be very minor - his own dcs have had a few mri scans. If they have a high temperature, a D&V bug, a rash it's off to the hospital. A 4d scan of baby in utero is standard. But they certainly pay for it.