Almost 4 months waiting for a gynecologist appointment: how it might go faster

Booking an appointment with a gynecologist? You often need a lot of patience.

According to research, the average waiting time is 112 days. Why does it take so long? And how can you get seen faster? Two experts share tips and recommend an online platform that can get you an appointment within a week.

“Some patients prefer a female specialist. Male gynecologists are disappearing.”

Those who want to book a gynecologist appointment often have to wait. The Flemish Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (VVOG) does not keep its own statistics on waiting times. “You probably have to wait longest for non-urgent appointments, like a cancer screening smear,” says spokesperson Isabelle Dehaene. “In addition, pregnancies quickly fill a gynecologist’s agenda: pregnant patients get an appointment every four weeks. Other specialists see the same patients much less regularly.”

Consumer organization Test-Achats conducted a study earlier this year into specialist waiting times. It also showed that getting a gynecologist appointment is not always easy. Belgian patients wait an average of 112 days—almost four months—for a consultation. Only dermatologists and ophthalmologists are harder to reach.

 

Doctena

Those searching online for a gynecologist quickly come across Doctena. With this platform, you can book your own appointment. On the website, you enter a specialization or practice and can filter by region. “It varies with us: someone searching for a gynecologist in Bruges sees different waiting times than someone in Sint-Niklaas, Dendermonde, or Buggenhout. It may still take more than four months, but at least it’s arranged,” says a Doctena spokesperson.

Dr. Dehaene is unfamiliar with the platform. “But if it’s reliable, it seems handy,” she says. “At the same time, only a selection of gynecologists will be on such a platform, while many patients prefer to see the same gynecologist for life. These are intimate exams, so you prefer to go to your own doctor, who you trust and who knows your file.”

The gynecologist we find in Sint-Niklaas via Doctena is Dr. Philip Vanparijs. Doctena took over his previous online booking platform. “It’s quite possible you’ll wait more than a year for a consultation with your own gynecologist,” he notes. He says it depends heavily on the individual doctor. “Some simply see fewer patients per week. Younger doctors more often choose to reduce their weekly patient load. This trend is also happening in other disciplines, including GPs.”

 

What else plays a role?

Isabelle Dehaene suspects waiting times vary between cities, but no data is available. It is also unclear whether you get in faster in a private practice or hospital. Dr. Vanparijs himself sees no difference: “People often think private practices are always more expensive – but here they aren’t.”

He notes that waiting times are often shorter with male gynecologists. “They sometimes have more slots available. But some patients prefer a female doctor. Male gynecologists are dying out.”

 

How can you get an appointment faster?

If you need an urgent consultation, explain to your gynecologist why. Usually, they reserve slots for urgent cases, says Dehaene. Dr. Vanparijs: “You might then get in next week. If not, ask the secretary for a referral to a colleague who may have more availability. If that also doesn’t help, you’ll need to search yourself.”

You can call neighboring practices or book elsewhere. “A good option is the mynexuzhealth app. Most hospitals use it. If it’s urgent, you can view many doctors’ online agendas at once and see which hospital has an open slot. It’s more work, but it helps. Booking with a doctor you don’t know is harder, but if it’s urgent, it’s urgent.”

 

Changes coming?

According to Dehaene, waiting times may shorten in the coming years. “Since last year, doctors advise women over 30 who test negative for HPV to get a smear every five years instead of every three. Many will still stick to three years, so gynecologists will remain busy.”

At present, paying extra for faster access doesn’t seem possible. Dr. Vanparijs expects such a system could come: “Like a fast lane at airports—there is a market in some fields, though there are ethical questions. I mostly hope we find a way to charge no-shows. We get five per day, while others call saying they can’t find an appointment. It’s paradoxical.”

 

What can GPs do?

“With a referral letter, your GP can request an urgent consultation,” says Dehaene. “For acute pain, early pregnancy with pain or bleeding, or a breast lump, GPs can help fill urgent gynecologist slots. They can also start rarer treatments. For vaginal itching, discharge, or contraception advice, you can often see your GP.”