First, I wanted someone who was nearby. If I could walk there, great! Second, if I had my choice, I preferred a female doc. I have nothing against male gynecologist but somewhere in the back of my head this little saying holds true, "A male gynecologist is like an auto mechanic who has never owned a car." However, it doesn't mean that he can't tune one up. So the cheat happened by chance. I looked up a doc on TT and came across someone who met my wishes and plus one: she was an American, who naturally spoke English.

Why do I think I cheated? Well. I have the opportunity to get to know the German medical culture, so why not use it. I would also be forced to learn more vocabulary if my doc only spoke German, it's a plus. But then I thought it would be cool to speak in German with Doc M and learn the words I didn't know during the conversation. Err..ehmm. Wrong.

At first she thought I came from the Philippines because I mentioned my family history. So I corrected her that actually I'm from Florida and speaking German is perfectly fine with me. Then she answered in English, "Well your German is fine. But I need to brush up on my English." So it was decided. English. Call me, Cheater.

Anyway, here's a some differences I noticed from my experiences in the US versus this one in Germany. Yesterday I waited in one area, the waiting room, one time. Not like at my gynecologist in Florida: wait a little in the waiting room, then forever in another ice cold room, naked. Alright almost naked when you count the prudish attempt at wrapping ourselves in a gown made of industrial toilet paper.

So I spoke with Doc M at her desk, she made a few notes on her computer and then we went to work. There was no paper gown and I could keep my shirt and skirt on. The GYN chair was a little different from the all-in-one exam table I was used to seeing in Florida. (Much like this one you see here, right) With no AC, it wasn't frighteningly cold in the room and it was actually quiet homey since the room was illuminated with natural light from the window.

Probably the only thing I thought a liitle strange was the array of metal speculums resting in the open air on a table next to the exam chair. My doc in Florida, would take out a speculum from a sealed plastic pouch in front of me so I got the impression that it had been sterilized. But the speculum got a latex glove so no big deal.

I also got to take a look at my uterus, bladder, and ovaries from a monitor through an ultrasound wand. Honestly I couldn't tell what was what: everything is dark, fluid is darker. But the purpose was to search out smaller cysts that couldn't be detected with a manual exam. It the ultrasound was 30 Euros extra, but I'm always up for something more preventative measures.

Other than that, it was pretty normal and in the end, it will only cost me 30 Euros for everything. No biggy. I'm beginning to wonder why my American expat girlfriends still want to fly home just to get a pelvic exam.