Going To The Gynecologist In Japan

Your guide on what to expect when going to the gynecologist in Japan.

In a culture where Japanese artist Megumi Igarashi faces obscenity charges due to the public display of her vagina-inspired art, it’s hardly surprising that there is a lack of accessible sexual health information and female-friendly gynecologist clinics in Japan.

But that doesn’t mean that the services aren’t out there. They are. Whether it’s for something pregnancy-related or just for a check-up, here’s a guide on what to expect when going to the gynecologist in Japan.

Finding a Gynecologist in Japan

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Last week, a few female colleagues and I stood in a lobby, not discussing work politics but whispering about where to find a proficient English-speaking gynecologist in the city. In fact, the list is endless, but as with any doctor, a great recommendation can make all the difference.

So do not hesitate to ask that female neighbor in your sharehouse or a good friend or look through the many lists of recommended surgeries in the city, like our Savvy list below.

Our Recommendations For English-speaking Gynecologist Clinics in Tokyo

• Toho Women’s Clinic: 5-3-10 Kiba, Koto-ku, Tokyo
• Sasazuka Ladies Clinic: Village Sasazuka III 4F., 1-30-3, Sasazuka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
• Kishi Clinica Femina: Namiki-Dori Nakajima Shoji Bldg. 5F., 8-5-6 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
• Tokyo Midtown Clinic: Midtown Tower 6F, Akasaka 9-7-1, Minato-ku, Tokyo
• Ebine Women’s Clinic: 1-2-17 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo

What To Expect As A First Timer

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The Ladies’ Clinic usually offers drop-in appointments at various times throughout the week. Call in advance, register on entry, and take a seat in the waiting room (which is often filled with an impressive array of pink furniture).

If you have a health insurance card, make sure you bring it with you, as it will enable you to pay only 30% of your total bill. Ensure you ask from the outset if you want to get any contraceptives, as you will have to have a blood test. The contraceptive pill, in particular (normally around ¥2,000), is not included in insurance.

What To Bring

• Health insurance card (保険証; hokensho)
• Identification card (身分証明書; mibunshomeisho)

Meeting Your Gynecologist

My Japanese gynecologist, although quite blunt, asked exactly what I wanted from the appointment and was comfortably direct in what was occurring throughout the whole procedure. Don’t worry about feeling embarrassed or awkward—this is their job. And yours certainly won’t be the only vagina they’ve seen today, so take a deep breath and relax. Overall, expect various questions about your period, your sexual activity (if you’re using protection or not), and if you’re on any birth control.

What Happens During The Appointment?

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Now, if you could please leave your knickers in the basket…let’s get down to business. A few words of warning: be aware the chair moves. In a matter of a few moments, this large contraption will have transported you, legs akimbo, and placed a curtain between your vagina, your new gyno, and yourself.

The curtain is seen to protect individuals from embarrassment and shame.

Heaven forbid we might catch a glimpse of our own genitals.

For some individuals, it might be comforting. However, on a personal level, my anxiety levels gradually rose during my time in the hot seat. Especially after an unexpected chitsusenjou—or what felt like a car wash jet in my vagina—for which you have the pleasure of paying around ¥1,500.

But when the curtain came away, the gynecologist revealed the ultrasound screen. It was a textbook view of my ovaries and follicles—something I had never seen before.

To Go Or Not To Gyno

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Japanese gynecologists have a reputation for unusual processes and a different approach. However, I was enlightened by the attention to detail in my ultrasound. All of the staff I encountered took care of it incredibly.

Gynecologists in Japan are not the subject of horror movies, as you might have heard. Japanese gynecology practice is generally advanced, straightforward, and, importantly, nonjudgmental.

What was your experience at the gynecologist clinic in Japan like?