'One stop shop' for a checkup?

Smallbit

Hi Ladies, can anyone recommend a clinic/hospital where I can go and pretty much get all my lady bits checked out in one visit? What I'm looking for is a sort of 'Girls NCT test'

I've been putting off the smear test and it's now 3 years since the last one

Also I want a proper breast-check exam as I'm not getting any younger

I'm also worried about early menopause which apparently runs in my family :eek:

Private care isn't a problem as I'm lucky enough to have very good cover (pretty much the only thing I got in my divorce settlement :mad:)

any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Clare Bear

The Well Woman Centre. There's 3 of them. Ballsbridge, Lower Liffey Street and Coolock. www.wellwomancentre.ie

jokettle

I'd recommend The Well Woman centre as well; I'm not 100% sure they do breast checks as well though. No harm in calling up and asking, they're the nicest medical people I've ever dealt with!

sam34

your GP will be able to do a smear test, a breast exam and take bloods to check for hormonal changes indicitative of menopause.


i'd steer well clear of private hospitals/clinics that offer health screening at a hefty cost - when you cut out all the flowery and medical language, they offer very little, if anything, that a gp could not do. IMO, they just prey on the fact that most people dont realise that.

Stheno

sam34 wrote: »

your GP will be able to do a smear test, a breast exam and take bloods to check for hormonal changes indicitative of menopause.


i'd steer well clear of private hospitals/clinics that offer health screening at a hefty cost - when you cut out all the flowery and medical language, they offer very little, if anything, that a gp could not do. IMO, they just prey on the fact that most people dont realise that.

I agree my work does a health screening programme every two years for employees, everything my gp offers but under the guise of a health check and without the likes of checking for thyroid/B12 deficiency etc

Find a good gp, they will do it all for you, my gp does, it's why I travel 60 miles to see him

And your gp will follow up on things rather than giving you a flat result so if you have e.g a cholesterol problem they will deal with it a health screen will just tell you you have.

Redmal

I work for 2 female GP's and they provide all of those services. The best thing about having a GP do the checks for you is that if anything needs to be followed up then the process is a lot faster and a lot more efficient.

My advice is to find yourself a female GP who can provide you with an NCT for everything as well as all the women stuff.

chocgirl

I'd be inclined to stick with your GP as well or find a good one you like if you're not happy where you are.

Was organising a work medical not too long ago that I had to fund myself and my GP worked out much cheaper than the private companies (won't mention names) that offered the same service.

DAWNRISER

I know some people aren't happy with their GP going checking our their fiddly bits. Its great if you have a GP who you feel comfortable enough for this sort of thing.
I'm lucky enough to have a GP who I am very comfortable with, but I have to say I prefer to use the Wellwoman ( I visit the Coolock one).
I feel as they specialise, I'm getting a better service. I suppose its like bringing your car to a main dealer instead of your local mechanic

Smallbit

Thanks for the advice everyone, I'd go to my GP but he's male, and also an old family friend, and I just can face the thought of him 'operating in the area'

I really should find a female GP, but then I'd have to tell him I was leaving etc etc, so that's the reason I was looking for a sort of one-off visit.

Might try the wellwoman centre again, but last time I was there they seemed to be mainly focussed on STIs and pregnancy and didn't really seem eager to do hormone tests etc.

The_Morrigan

I had to find a GP in Dublin - family GP is back home, bit of a disaster to get an appointment without having to take a day off.

I'm now using the Hanover Medical Center - great little place. They are also one of the registered practices that do the cervical checks.

magneticimpulse

Its amazing how lacking Ireland is with Health Check ups. I got a free NCT Medical exam this year in France. Its like a confeyer belt for testing in a special clinic...and completed in 2 hours on the same day. They even give you lunch because you have to fast for the blood tests.

1st Bloods, Urine, Smear
2nd Dentist,
3rd ECG Cardio exam and Breast Check
4th GP
5th if needed Dietian, Psychologist


I think it should be that way all over Europe. Also every 3 months you need a check up on the pill and they always do Breast Exam for women of all ages...its standard here.

3 years is really long time without smear test...should it not be yearly? I dont know as ive lived in UK and France and its always been yearly in those countries.

lalalovely

A Galway point of view...

I went to my GP to get a "Ladies NCT" when I was getting serious with a new partner. I wanted a check for everything. She did a Smear but wouldnt test for STI's except one (clymadia I think) beacuse "all the other ones have symptoms".
I was like WTF!? You can have dormant symptoms and you can have it and not know! I was really distraught and ended up going to the UCHG Health Screening. They were really nice and tested for EVERYTHING.

I wish my GP had been more accomidating...I felt really let down.
Galway is in need of a clinic that is for normal checks and that dosent make you feel like a complete Slapper for wanting to be healthy.