What It's like to Go to the GYN in Malta

Okay, this is not going to be a sensationalized article. This is really for women who may be staying or living in Malta, and who may need the services of a gynecologist. It turns out that there's quite a difference between going to a GYN in the US versus going to one in Malta. Here's what I found:

Making the Appointment-This was easy. The GYN's office is located right next to the pharmacy where my family doctor is. I had wanted a female GYN, but my Maltese hairdresser recommended this male doctor, so I decided to do it. It only took me a few days to get an appointment for a routine exam. This was easier done in Malta than in the US.

Reception-The doctor's office-which he shared with at least one other doctor-was located in an old Maltese-style townhouse. I'm getting used to this now. It's not a slick office that you get in the US. The reception area looks more like a living room. But that's OK once you get used to it. Of course, there is a desk and a whole big file case. The receptionist was very friendly and didn't sit behind a glass window, as in the US. She seem harried but friendly.

The Doctor-I liked the doctor who I first met in his office to chat with a bit before disrobing for the exam. He had gray hair and a bad knee. He apologized for his knee and explained that was why he was using a crutch. He was friendly and knowledgeable, asking about my medical history, medications, any problems.

The Examining Room-This is the part I didn't like. The room seemed grimy. It was not the slick, hygienic room I'm used to. The room had an examining table (with no stirrups) and clean enough looking paper sheets. But there was a dusty ultrasound machine. There were also dust balls collecting in the corners (Malta is eternally dusty). There was a tube of gel (on a unclean-looking instrument table), probably used prior to an ultrasound examination. What bothered me was that the tube looked grimy around the rim-like a toothpaste tube that hasn't been wiped in a long time.

The Exam Itself-This seemed OK to me-a lot shorter than a GYN exam in the US. The doctor used a disposable plastic speculum which was much more comfortable than those metal ones in the US. The doctor did a brief breast exam, and asked if I go for regular mammograms. (In Malta, women at no great risk for breast cancer go for regular screening mammograms every 18 months-not every year as in the US; now the US cancer authorities are recommending every 18 months.) The doctor did not perform a rectal exam nor did he take a small sample to test for rectal cancer. That surprised me. And there was no attendant in the examining room-which was fine with me. And there was no sign asking you if you want an attendant-which is common in he US.

Cost-The GYN exam cost 50 Euros which was for a private visit. I paid the doctor in cash-which he preferred-and he gave me a receipt. I will be trying to get this fee refunded from my private European insurance which is supposed to cover annual, preventative check-ups. The doctor filled out and signed the form right then at the end of the visit. He also wrote me a prescription for a GYN product I needed and which turned out to be a lot cheaper than in the US. And as a favor, he also wrote me a prescription for Retin-A-something I would have had to wait for a dermatologist to prescribe. (And Retin-A turned out to be a lot cheaper than in the US.)

Conclusion-I felt the GYN experience was OK. It was less stressful and uncomfortable than a GYN exam in the US. I liked the fact that I met the doctor beforehand to talk in his office before the physical part of the exam. I didn't like that the room seemed dirty. That bothered me a lot. And I guess I would have preferred-just for peace of mind-to have the rectal exam/and or the simple swab test for rectal cancer. But I felt the doctor knew what he was doing and I appreciated him writing me the extra prescription which had nothing to do with his field of practice.

Ilene Springer lives in Malta and is author of An-American-in-Malta.com.