AIBU to think I don’t need to go to the gynaecologist every year?!

[Watchagotcha]

I live in France but am from the UK. I was out with some friends last night - some French, mostly Brits who’ve been here a lot longer than me. We got talking about various medical issues, and it transpires that pretty much all my friends go to see their gynaecologist every year! I’m not sure what for: smear tests, when they are due; breast exams; and just “making sure everything is okay”.

Is this really necessary? What kinds of conditions might they be picking up on that I wouldn’t notice and go to the dr with myself?

Do I need to see a gynaecologist yearly?
YABU = yes you do, the gynaecologist might find something that needs treated
YANBU = no, don’t be daft, go to the dr if you need to and get regular smears when they are due

Our experience here in France is that the GP tells you that you need to see a specialist and gives you a referral letter. We ask around and find someone ourselves and if we get stuck we ask the GP for some help. DH needs to see an eye specialist and the one at the hospital told us we would not be seen without a letter (and there is a six month wait).

We have also had problems getting (non-urgent) first appointments with cardiologists and dermatologists. However when DH needed a colonoscopy the GP got on the phone to the hospital and booked it for the next day. There are definitely shortages in some specialisms.

Why would they have to?
If you self refer to physiotherapists, you'd say "shoulder pain, I need exercise or massage or something physios do".

It varies around the world but every 3 years is the scientifically proven frequency for smears against the cost and false positives ... heard it on More or Less (Radio 4). Ive never seen a gynaecologist, even when I lived in the USA I saw a midwife for smears

Sorry I've read it wrong. I think it should be between 8 and 10 years of study.

Consultants are specialists in a particular area of medicine, and after graduating from medical school, it takes a doctor between six and eight years (basic training followed by specialist training) to become a consultant.”
www.bma.org.uk › files › pdfs

Not that I’m a promiscuous slore, but I get
STI tests annually in clinic. I’ve never had a STI, but still found the appointments useful - eg bleeding outside of menses, turned out that I had a cervical ectropion, I was able to get treatment within 2 weeks. They later picked up that I had some minor side effects after the treatment too (annoyingly).

I now feel more comfortable speaking to medical professionals about what is/isn’t normal for my body in terms of gynae issues, whereas before I ever had an exam I probably would have just left it, and not spoken to anyone about my concerns out of embarrassment/fear of exams etc.

I didn't have the extra worry of finding the best one. Finding the best available and one that could fit you in could easily take longer than the 2 week NHS referral wait. And what a worry if you thought you had not got the best.

Your GP doesn't choose the best specialist to refer you to, I guess you get referred to the nearest place. Which is mostly how I'd choose a specialist - which happened to me recently (I was referred by the GP, but could choose where I went).

(Your GP doesn't choose the best specialist to refer you to, I guess you get referred to the nearest place. Which is mostly how I'd choose a specialist - which happened to me recently (I was referred by the GP, but could choose where I went).*

Yes, but I could happily defer that responsibility when my mind was all over the place. Que sera sera.

Never been to a gynecologist in all the 49 years of me being on this earth. We have doctor's and practice nurses to see to all our medical needs in the UK.

This has reminded me of my school appointment (France) to check puberty was happening normally, me and classmates all standing in our pants before being called in individually, examined and asked cringey questions. No one seemed bothered, already indoctrinated not to question these things, just get on with them.

My relatives in Italy see a gynaecologist every year. My cousin, who is 34, was diagnosed with breast cancer by pure chance, during a routine breast scan. She didn't have a lump at the time.

I'm surprised at the answers, when one of the most common complaints on MN is that women's health issues are constantly ignored and minimized. NHS is a great resource, but in some areas it really is lacking and people often have to wait months before their concerns are listened to. I appreaciate some people live in areas where it works amazingly well and don't feel a need to change anything.

I’ve been trying for 5 years to see a gynaecologist on the NHS. If give my arm to go every year!

@waterbottle12 I know 100%; the doctors confirmed. She had no lump and a VERY aggressive cancer that would have killed her in a year. And yes I’m familiar with the concept.

I'm surprised at the answers, when one of the most common complaints on MN is that women's health issues are constantly ignored and minimized.

There's a difference between women's health (in general) and reproductive health. Yes, women want their concerns to be taken seriously. This might not mean they want routine yearly checks at a gynaecologist. That's just another cog in the machine. Women want their individual concerns to be taken seriously. Not just to be treated like a walking baby machine. Their health concerns might be nothing to do with gynaecology. It could just as easily be their heart or stomach issues.

In the U.S I get all of my test results directly also. You don't get yours in the UK???

No, the bloody GP gets them and then you have to get an appointment and get sat down in an office with a guardian there like a naughty school child. It drives me round the fucking twist.

I think keeping on top of your health is a good thing. Given how excluded women’s health is from general practice a gynaecologist might be a good type of doctor to visit every year if you’ve had issues/are using birth control/sexually active. A dermatologist is also a must if you have pigmentation or other skin conditions. Most people are t aware of issues and can’t spot problems as easily as a doctor could. An annual check up or two isn’t a major inconvenience and well worth it. Not cost effective in Britain though given how many people use the NHS but I’d expect it to be something that happens in a country with a good healthcare system.

No, the bloody GP gets them and then you have to get an appointment and get sat down in an office with a guardian there like a naughty school child. It drives me round the fucking twist.

I'm pretty sure you can get them direct as part of the data consent compliance.

@waterbottle12 really? Over diagnosis doesn’t seem to be an issue in the NHS. Quite the opposite actually.

Cancer survival in Europe for Ovarian cancer is higher than the uk, one reason being earlier detection. I think if I was being offered a free annual check for cervical/ovarian cancer I'd take it.

I'd be jumping at it quite frankly! Two of my friends have died from ovarian cancer because they kept going to their GPs and were fobbed off with "maybe it's IBS" and "I think it's a touch of gastroenteritis" so their cancers spread. If they'd been at a check up that caught their cancer at an earlier stage they could still be alive. I've also had ovarian cancer. I was told firstly it was a urine infection, then when tests were normal, told there was nothing wrong with me. I kicked up a huge fuss because I knew there was something wrong, and eventually got a CA125 blood test and a pelvic ultrasound to "rule out cancer" which of course they didn't.

It was almost a year between me first feeling a bit off colour and the diagnosis (I had a rare, slow growing tumour, staged as 1C2) and if I'd had one of these check ups in the meantime I'd have been in the system a whole lot quicker. Same with my friends, one of whom died in her 40s, the other in her 60s.

I consider every day a blessing and feel incredibly lucky.

So, yes, whilst a yearly checkup might not catch ovarian or any other cancer in time, it just might. Anyone saying they don't think it's worth it and don't see the point, you really need to give your heads a wobble. Something like that in England might just save your or a friend's life one day.

An annual check up or two isn’t a major inconvenience and well worth it. Not cost effective in Britain though given how many people use the NHS but I’d expect it to be something that happens in a country with a good healthcare system.

The NHS is one of the best healthcare systems! Particularly because it is not entirely driven by profit and insurance companies!

So, yes, whilst a yearly checkup might not catch ovarian or any other cancer in time, it just might. Anyone saying they don't think it's worth it and don't see the point, you really need to give your heads a wobble. Something like that in England might just save your or a friend's life one day.

I've had cancer (breast) but still am not fussed by yearly routine screening. I am much more invested in being able to get appointments in a timely manner and to be taken seriously when you actually have a health concern. Go figure.

Smear tests are recommended every 3 years in the US not every year any more.

You can get your medical results online direct. DH has signed up. I only haven't because I don't get as many as he does.

@Reginabambina

Overdiagnosis is a significant issue with lots of non diseases like prediabetes being pushed by public health and concerns that breast screening and the increasing use of psa to screen for prostate cancer can do more harm than good.

I don't see the need personally, but I can see why others do. It is a bit like going to the dentist for 6 monthly check up, you might not need to but any issues or potential issues can be picked up.

It is preemptive medical care which makes sense. I had a conversation with a friend from india and she said they have the same sort of attitude there too. Where they get an mot style health check up every so often. Here you have to be ill or have a concern before seeing a g.p.

I would happily have a smear every year. I wish they'd allow it.