Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can help me out...not sure exactly who to ask. I am working in Switzerland without Swiss health insurance. I have my insurance from my home country but it only covers accidents.

I need to get my IUD (birth control) removed but am not sure where to look. I searched for "women's clinics" but Switzerland doesn't seem to have those.

Can anyone tell me where I can go to get it removed, and how to do it the cheapest way possible? Will a "permanence centre" do it? I'm getting very frustrated and not sure where to go... I'd be very grateful if anyone could help point me in the right direction!

Get health insurance, get it removed. Swiss Health insurance is mandatory in most cases, I doubt you are excluded.

I have been here six months, and my paper work excluding me from the requirement has already been cleared by the authorities.

Would be very grateful if someone could answer my original question.

I asked my GP if he was trained to remove it, he looked at me funny and told me that it's normally done by a gynaecologist. Seems the specialists have a 'monopoly' on that sort of thing - whereas in Australia my GP said he was trained to remove it and it would not be a problem.

I'd expect maybe up to 200chf to have it taken out by a gynaecologist. I can't recommend you one, but if you find a good one in Zurich, please let me know!

Either way, your insurance probably wouldn't cover it, it'll be 'out of pocket' but if you phone the reception for the gynaecologist, they should be able to give you a rough idea of the cost of a normal appointment and removal of the IUD. I assume it's Mirena. From what I've heard, it should be very straightforward to take it out, and I've heard of people who've removed their own... but not something I'd necessarily recommend.

If you need help with your insurance. I can recommend "Insurance Jenny" - she's on the forum here and set us up twice with insurance for our family of 5, our kids' policies are with a different insurer to the adults in our family, but we reckon we got a really good deal all round...

Please check out at tremli hospital. One of my friend got it removed few years ago. Hope you can ask the high level price tag, in case if you want compare with other places as we talk about without insurance.

You really need to see a gynecologist. You seem to be in the swiss romand area, best to get a referral of someone you know, or perhaps look up one on www.doctor.ch A permanance is not really for these things, I would doubt they would have the equipment or the trained personnel for it. It is ok for minor ailments, but anything else and they will refer you to a doctor/specialist.

To give you an idea, I had my IUD removed earlier this year and paid approx 160 CHf with Dr Nesi Seraj in Lausanne. If you don't make conversation, I think you can bring the price down a little bit. I see from your posts you're in Geneva (?) but at least this gives you an idea of the price. Receptionists/secretaries of other doctors in your area should be able to give you an idea of the price over the phone, before you make an appointment.

I know you are not keen on discussing your insurance. However I cannot fathom how the Commune would exempt you from Swiss insurance if you are only covered for accidents- as, by law, you have to be covered for all medical conditions.

I wish you all the very best- but, say, what would happen if you have a heart attack, a stroke, or a severe illness develops? Or if your IUD is embedded and causing infection?

This gynaecologist was recommended to us, and Mrs Angoose has been to see him once. He's in Geneva, if I understand correctly that you're located there.

http://miroslavpirek.gyndoc.ch/

If you are in Geneva (your location is actually stated as USA), the Cantonal hospital (HUG) has a drop-in clinic at the Gynécologie et Obstetrique Departement. 30 Boulevard de la Cluse.
Tel. 022 382 44 00 if you want to check the opening hours or to try and book an appointment, but I think they're open pretty much non-stop for emergencies.

I expect you'll have to pay up-front as you don't have any insurance, anti-contraception isn't usually covered by insurance here anyway.

I assume you live in Geneva so you might like this list of gynacolgical doctors,

http://yellow.local.ch/en/q?what=gyn...eneva&rid=z64P

... but if you want a cheap visit, have you looked at France?