I am living in Osaka, central area, with my girlfriend. We are both foreigners and besides for a vaccination never went to a doctor. I would like to know if it is possible to receive regular health check-ups in Japan. In Germany, my home country, we do have regular check-ups that are paid by the regular health insurances. Is there such a system in Japan?
Most importantly would be a Gynecologist because my girlfriend has strong period pain. She is working full time at a Japanese company and has the regular health insurance. She is fluent in Japanese, which means doctors who do not speak a language besides of Japanese are also totally fine.
Thank you all for you help!
https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/180qmkd/gynecologist_check_up_in_japan_osaka/
5 comments
If she’s working full-time, then most likely there is an annual health check run by the company. If not, perhaps she’d be interested in something more comprehensive called 人間ドック that you can do at some hospitals and clinics.
It might be better to try r/Osaka or r/japanlife for recommendations specific to your area.
Otherwise she could just find her nearest ladies clinic or 婦人科/産婦人科 and ask for a consultation. At the very least, I would check reviews on google to see what locals say about the clinic.
Vouchers for free pap smears usually aren’t sent out until you turn 40.
Do you work? Your company should be doing an annual check up for insurance purposes.
Your girlfriend should go to her local ladies clinic and tell them she has strong period pain. The doctor should offer her a pap smear and an intravaginal ultrasound and then a short consultation. She’ll have to go back a few weeks later for the results from the pap smear. If they suspect endometriosis based on the ultrasound they might order a blood draw, and based on those numbers they might send her for a MRI. Or they might just recommend she goes on the pill. This is better than waiting for the annual check up as all that will happen at the check up is if they see something they’ll tell her to visit a ladies clinic anyway. It’s been a while, but it she can use her health insurance card and I think she’ll be billed something like 3000 or 4000 yen for the initial visit.
ETA don’t choose a clinic that offers IVF because the waiting time will be looooonnnnng.
In Kobe we had good experience at the Hanabusa clinic for gynecological exams. For Osaka I don’t know a place to recommend but Japan does regular gynecological exams including Pap smears and high risk hpv testing for women, which all women should get to prevent cancer.