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American in France: Going to the Doctor
A compare and contrast between my experiences in the US and France
There are few things more terrifying than going to the OBGYN. I think childbirth is on that list and the OBGYN is there for that usually.
The first time I went to the gyno, my dad took me. For a lack of a better word, I was a total bitch the entire way to the Doctor’s office.
For context, as a teenager I was never a total bitch, except this time. The OBGYN has some sort of power that imposes dread, kind of like the dentist but worse. And, the reality is, it’s not an awful experience. Intimate, yes. Awful, no.
I’ve had the privilege of having gynecologists in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and France. My experiences have varied significantly amongst all of them.
Beyond that fact that insurance changed drastically during my early adulthood in the US, different doctors have different bedside manners, different medical offices have varying waiting rooms, etc.
When I started going to the Doctor in France, I was terrified because I wasn’t sure what to expect. The French have Universal Healthcare. Their national insurance is not something I’m added onto yet. Because I’m in the “out crowd”, I feared the worst.