Gynecology in Ankara

Gynecology is the medical practice that focuses on the health of the female reproductive system, including the vagina, uterus, and ovaries. Doctors who specialize in this field are called gynecologists. They deal with a range of conditions, such as:

• Issues relating to menstruation, menopause, pregnancy, and fertility
• Family planning, including sterilization, contraception, and pregnancy termination
• Urinary and fecal incontinence
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Problems with tissue that support the pelvic organs, including muscles and ligaments
• Benign conditions of the reproductive tract, such as fibroids, breast disorders, ovarian cysts, as well as vulvar and vaginal ulcers
• Premalignant conditions, such as cervical dysplasia and endometrial hyperplasia
• Cancers of the breasts and reproductive tract, as well as pregnancy-related tumors
• Endometriosis, which is a chronic condition affecting the reproductive system
• Congenital abnormalities of the female reproductive tract
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Emergency care relating to gynecology
• Sexual dysfunction
• Sexuality, including health issues that relates to same-sex relationships.

Gynecologists are trained to carry out certain diagnostic and surgical procedures, including:

• Pap smear tests
• Colposcopy
• Ultrasound scanning
• Endometrial biopsy
• Hysteroscopy
• Diagnostic laparoscopy
• Hysterectomy
• Dilation and curettage
• Oophorectomy
• Tubal ligation
• Exploratory laparotomy
• Appendectomy
• Surgical treatments for urinary incontinence, such as cystoscopy and sub-urethral slings
• Surgical treatments for pelvic organ prolapse, such as rectocele and cystocele
• Cervical excision procedures, such as cryosurgery.

How Long Should I Stay in Ankara?

Your length of stay varies depending on the procedure you underwent. In general, you should be able to leave the hospital or clinic on the same day for diagnostic procedures, and stay in Ankara for around 2 to 7 days to wait for the results. For surgical procedures, you may need to stay in the hospital for about 2 to 5 days and stay in Ankara for 7 to 14 days. You will attend scheduled checkups where your gynecologist checks your condition and, if necessary, remove any stitches.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

After diagnostic procedures, you may be advised to rest for the remainder of the day before resuming your normal activities, including work the next day. After a surgical procedure, you may need to wait around four to six weeks until you return to work and do strenuous activities.

What Aftercare is Required?

You will have to adopt healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating a healthy diet and exercise regularly (as recommended by your doctor), to maintain your health and prevent any issues in the future. After surgery for a serious illness, you may feel very emotional and it is recommended that you seek support if this happens. You also need to attend regular checkups, typically once a year.

What's the Success Rate?

The field of gynecology continues to advance each year and gynecologists now have more information and a deeper understanding of the female reproductive system. This means that the success rate is now higher than it used to be. However, all procedures carry some risks. In gynecology procedures, the risks include infection, tearing or damage to the cervix, pelvic inflammatory disease, damage to nearby organs, chronic pain, and vaginal prolapse.

Are there Alternatives?

Seeing a gynecologist is crucial if you experience any problems with your reproductive system. Therefore, there is no alternative to seeing a gynecologist. If your conditions are found to be caused by other diseases unrelated to the reproductive system, your gynecologist will refer you or work together with the relevant specialist.

Gynecology in and around Ankara

About Ankara

Turkey’s capital Ankara is the second-largest city in the country and has a rich cultural heritage and serves a prominent place in history.

Ankara is a prominent industrial hub of Turkey with many manufacturing plants catering to food, beverage, and the construction of raw materials, etc. Medical tourism is also a major source of revenue for Turkey as it tops the list among the seven countries famous for thermal springs. The Medical Tourist industry in Turkey is growing 10%-15% each year and 2018 saw close to 1 million tourists who visited the country for medical treatments.

While patients from all over the world visit Ankara for medical procedures, most of them are from Libya, Germany, UK, and UAE. The big reason behind this was due to the fact that the treatments and surgical procedures in Turkey are nearly 40% cheaper than in most other European nations. There are world-class hospitals catering to a wide range of medical procedures. The city being a hot tourist destination, many patients enjoy exploring the city while getting treated. Some of the popular hospitals and Clinics frequented by tourists in Ankara include:

• Sanatoryum Hastahanesi
• Ankara University Cebeci Hospital
• SALUSS Medical Center

In addition to the aforementioned services, the recently inaugurated Ankara Bilkent City Hospital that began operations in March 2019, holds the distinction of being the biggest hospital in the country. It boasts a stupendous capacity, housing a total of 3,704 hospital beds.

Popular Areas in Ankara

The Central Anatolia Region is known to host some of the most prolific wine production establishments in the city.

Notably, the well-known Turkish Aerospace Industries, Türk Havacılık ve Uzay Sanayii A.Ş., is based in Ankara's Sincan district. This area is predominately inhabited by Turkish residents.

Ankara is an important city where most of the significant Government related activities are carried out and has become a prominent place for bureaucrats and officials. Çankaya District houses most of the Government buildings and is also one of the most popular residential neighborhoods in Turkey.

Another key urban area in Ankara is Yenimahalle. This district is renowned for the recently popularized Wonderland Eurasia theme park. In merely the first week following its grand opening, the park was thronged by nearly one million eager visitors.

Weather and Climate in Ankara

Ankara is known for its Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers making up the city's weather pattern. Contrastingly, winter seasons can be quite chilly, with the lowest yearly temperature recorded around a frigid -24.9°C. If your timing is lucky, you might even get to revel in a bit of gentle snowfall during the winter months. Namely, back in 2018, the city appreciated snowfall commencing in mid-December, signaling a winter season that was relatively warmer than those of preceding years.

June to August is an ideal time to visit Ankara. After the heat of the summer settles down, these months stay warm and dry. March to May is the next most preferred time for tourists. It is best to avoid the months of December and January, as the city can get unpredictably cold. It receives a good amount of rainfall after the winter between January and March. Hence, if you are visiting Ankara for skiing, then it is wise to reschedule your travel to early January.

Getting around in Ankara

Tourists from all over the world can reach Ankara through its Esenboğa International Airport. The primary airlines serving most of the popular global destinations are:

• Anadolu Jet
• Pegasus Airlines
• SunExpress
• Turkish Airlines

Besides this international airport, it also has the Etimesgut Air Base, the Akıncı Air Base, and the Güvercinlik Army Air Bases.

Visitors can easily navigate through the city courtesy of the efficiently networked metro rail and local bus services. The management and regulation of the railway and bus facilities are efficiently handled by Ankara Electricity and Gas Operations Business.

Ankara Central Railways Station provides connectivity to all primary points within the city. Opting for a taxi from the airport to the city center is also a reasonable choice, with fares approximated around $15. Plus, the overall taxi charges within the city are perceived to be quite fair.

Tourist Visas in Ankara

Electronic Visa Application System of the Republic of Turkey: The Electronic Visa Application System of the Republic of Turkey (e-Visa) is a system that allows citizens of certain countries to obtain a visa to Turkey online. To apply for an e-Visa, you must visit the government website of the e-Visa system. You can check the list of eligible countries on the website.

Visa on arrival: Citizens of certain countries, including Bhutan, Afghanistan, and Kenya, can choose to obtain a visa on arrival in Turkey. However, it is important to note that visa on arrival is not guaranteed, and you may be denied entry if you do not meet all of the requirements.

Visa requirements for citizens of India, China, Russia, and other countries: Citizens of India, China, Russia, and a few other countries must apply for a visa in advance before traveling to Turkey. Visas can be obtained online or at a Turkish embassy or consulate.

Additional Information

• The local currency of Ankara is Turkish Lira. The value of 1 Turkish Lira is equivalent to 0.17 USD.
• Most of the tourist spots in the city accept payments made with credit and debit cards. You can also make use of international money transfer systems. On Municipal buses and metros, you can pay with magnetic cards available at kiosks. However, it is advisable to carry cash to pay at the local buses. Most taxi drivers accept payment in local currencies only.
• ​​​​​​​The tourism police division in Ankara Police Department consists of staff who can speak multiple languages including English, French, Arabic, and Russian. Most of the younger generation and some taxi drivers also understand English. Yet not many might be able to communicate in English though.
• ​​​​​​​If you would like to enjoy the rich culture of the city, then check out the Ankara Opera House. It is popular for ballet performances and theatres. The city has a strong emphasis on arts and music.
• ​​​​​​​Kocatepe Camii is a popular destination for tourists. It is the largest Mosque in Ankara. The Mosque was built in an Ottoman architecture style, for this reason, it resembles the Mosques built in the Ottoman era, such as the famous Sultan Ahmet Mosque (also called the Blue Mosque) in Istanbul.
• ​​​​​​​The major public holidays of Ankara are the New Year’s on January 1, Labor Day on May 1, and Republic Day on October 29. So, plan your visit keeping these National holidays in mind.