Women's health treatment abroad

Hysterectomy is surgery to remove the womb (uterus). The area also covers fibroid and ovarian cyst treatment and endometriosis treatment; endometriosis is where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb grow in other parts of the body. Incontinence and prolapse surgery is listed as one procedure; pelvic organ prolapse is where the womb, bladder or bowel bulges into the vagina.

Labiaplasty is surgery to reduce the size of the labia minora. Vaginal tightening and rejuvenation is listed as a separate procedure. If you are not sure which procedure you need, choose "Not sure yet" under women's health when you describe your case, or write in your own words what your doctor has told you. The clinic looks at the details of your case before it makes you an offer.

Turkey offers every women's health procedure on Medbook's list, in Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Adana, Bodrum, Bursa, Eskişehir and Kayseri. Every service on Medbook's list is arranged there: airport and clinic transfers, accommodation, an interpreter, a personal coordinator, visa support, an online consultation before you travel and aftercare. Hysterectomy, fibroid and ovarian cyst treatment and endometriosis treatment are offered through Medbook only in Turkey.

South Korea offers labiaplasty, vaginal tightening and rejuvenation, and incontinence and prolapse surgery, in Seoul, Busan and Incheon. Accommodation and an online consultation before you travel are arranged there. If you would like to discuss your treatment in your own language, keep in mind that an interpreter is among the services in Turkey but not in South Korea.

How long you stay depends on the procedure, and your clinic confirms the dates in its offer. Wherever you go, once you confirm an offer, your roadmap lets you book flights and transfers yourself or ask Medbook to arrange them.

Gather your recent gynaecological records: examination reports, ultrasound or MRI scans with their reports, test results and letters from your doctor, together with notes on any earlier surgery in the pelvic area. Write down the medications you take, including any hormonal treatment, and any allergies. The assistant asks about chronic conditions, allergies and medications when you describe your case, and it may ask whether there is a possibility of pregnancy.

An online consultation before you travel is arranged in both countries. Questions worth asking during the consultation:

• Which scans or tests do you need before the treatment, and how recent should they be?
• How long should I plan to stay, and when can I fly home?
• Should the dates take my menstrual cycle into account?
• Which follow-up checks are planned, and can my doctor at home do any of them?

When you compare offers, look at the dates and at whether follow-up is included.