Menopausal Complaints

First go to your GP

If you have any issues, you should initially go to your GP. Talk about your complaints with them and then decide if you need to go to a medical specialist, and which one will fit your situation the best. If your GP wants to refer you to a gynecologist, then he can choose Karmenta. You can ask for that yourself as well. Usually you’ll be seen quicker at Karmenta than at a hospital-based gynecologist.

‘Zorgdomein’

If your GP refers you to Karmenta, it will almost always go through ‘Zorgdomein’. You will get a note from your doctor with information about Karmenta and how to make an appointment with us. If your GP doesn’t refer you through ‘Zorgdomein’ you will get a letter of referral from your GP that you have to bring with you to your appointment at Karmenta.

Call Karmenta at +31-(0)73 - 7200 993.

Your call will be answered by Lieke, or one of the other team members, like Cynthia, Anky or Gerard. If you were referred through ‘Zorgdomein’ we should already have all of your details and your letter of referral in our electronic patients dossier. We will just check your details with and fill in your phone number(s) and email address. If you have any questions don’t be scared to ask them. We will usually look at your letter of referral to see if you need to come in to a specific doctor or at a specific time. After that we’ll make an appointment during our consultation hours for you. We will confirm this in an email.

Were you not referred through ‘Zorgdomein’?

Then we’ll have to look up your data, which can be done using your BSN-number, or your postcode and date of birth. You will have to bring your letter of referral to your appointment.

Do you not have/want a referral from your GP?

In some cases you will also be able to be seen at Karmenta without a referral from your GP. If you want to make an appointment for a treatment that will not be covered by your insurance (uninsured care). An example of that is for specific (fertility) ultrasounds, or the Mona Lisa Touch treatment. If you don’t have a referral, we will still register you in our system when you call of course, we will just register you as a new patient and ask for some additional personal information.

Karmenta is easy to find in the Medical Centre Schijndel. If you come in through the sliding doors and you will be able to sign in at the reception, there we’ll ask you for your ID. We’ll also check your data, like your GP, health insurer and will add a pharmacy that we could send a prescription to if needed. 

After this you will be able to sit down in the waiting room, where we will offer you a cup of coffee while you wait.

Directions  Public Transport to Karmenta

If you end up in the gynecologist's office, we will discuss your issues. The gynecologist wants to really understand you and it is very important to us that we thoroughly explain what all your options are and what they will mean for you. That’s why at Karmenta you will spend a lot more time in the office than you would in a hospital. We will discuss the result we’re aiming for of course, but we’ll also tell you about the risks and possible complications. We will check if you’ve understood everything and might give you some additional information to read so you can come to a good decision. 

Prepare for your appointment

It is important that you are prepared for your talk with the gynecologist. You can bring someone you trust with you (your partner, mother, friend) so they’ll be able to follow the conversation as well. That way they will be able to discuss the conversation with you. 

You can write your questions in advance, or write down any steps you’ve already taken to alleviate your symptoms. A great starting point for questions is this website: 3Goedevragen.nl (Dutch)

After your talk with the gynecologist you may have to come in for another appointment. You can make that appointment with the assistant at the reception. The doctor will walk with you to the reception and explain to the assistant what the next steps are and what the appointment is for.

(Blood)testing

If a sample was taken (smear test) during the consultation, we will make sure it is examined in the lab and that we get the results of the test. Sometimes your blood, tissue or urine has to be tested by an external laboratory. In that case you will get a form that has the laboratory in question listed and the type of research marked on it. You’ll have to bring the form with you to a branch of Pathologie-DNA or of Diagnostiek voor U. The assistant will help you with that. On the website you’ll find which branch is closest to you. Or you can make an appointment for the research at the blood taking site run by Bernhoven Ziekenhuis at Medical Centre Schijndel. (Opening times of the blood taking site).

Collecting your medication at the pharmacy

Sometimes the gynecologist will write out a prescription for medication. You’ll be able to pick this up at your local pharmacy. It is vital therefore, that you know what/where your local pharmacy is, so we can register it in the electronic patients dossier. Karmenta will electronically send the prescription to the pharmacy, and will try to do that as soon as we can after your consultation. This means that the pharmacy will already have your prescription when you go to collect it.