Gynecology in Daegu

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 Daegu?

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 Daegu 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 Daegu 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 Daegu

About Daegu

Daegu is the fourth largest metropolitan city in South Korea with a population of over 2.5 million. Daegu is also known as “Textile City” because textiles used to be the pillar industry of the city. The city is home to big electronic companies such as Samsung. Daegu is famous for its oriental medicine and is also called Medi-City.

Daegu has become increasingly popular among domestic and international medical tourists. The city has been developing its healthcare infrastructure as well as promoting it. Daegu won Korea’s Leading Brand Award for three years in a row (2015, 2016, and 2017) for its contribution to South Korea’s medical tourism. In 2017, Daegu had the first successful arm transplant in Korea.

Hospitals in Daegu offer primary care such as General Health Check-Up, Cancer, and Serious Disease Surgery; Beauty care such as hair transplant, skincare, and plastic surgery; Other medical care would be dentistry, ophthalmology, and oriental medicine. The City is equipped with the world’s best medical technology, excellent medical practitioners, and affordable healthcare.

Popular Areas in Daegu

Daegu is fascinating in many ways, from shopping in the traditional market to hiking in beautiful locations. The following is a list of popular attractions in Daegu.

• Seomun Market is the oldest traditional market in the city and has around 4000 vendors. Tourists can buy high-quality traditional Hanboks as well as men and women's clothing. Tourists should also try their famous Soemun fishcake, Bibimbap, and Sujebi.
• Donghwasa Temple, the most famous temples in Daegu is full of history from the 17th century. The temple has beautiful architecture and various Buddhist statues including a 17-meter high statue of Buddha.
• Daegu Yangnyeongsi Museum of Oriental Medicine is the largest Oriental medicine center in Korea. The museum provides insights to the 350-year-old traditions of Oriental medicine and medicine markets.
• Daegu Apsan Park, a large eco-park that is one of the most popular hiking spots in the city. Tourists will find Suseong Pond and various hiking routes in the park. A cable car is also available for tourists who don’t want to hike. Tourists can see a beautiful landscape of Daegu from this park.
• Daegu National Museum showcases the unique cultural heritage of Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do. Visitors can participate in museum activities such as trying traditional dyeing and learning traditional herbs.

Weather and Climate in Daegu

As in the rest of South Korea, Daegu has four distinct seasons. The city is a year-round destination for tourists.

• Spring in Daegu starts from April to June, the sky is mostly sunny in spring.
• Summer comes from late June to August; the average temperature is 21 - 25°C. Summer is also the rainy season.
• Autumn is when the temperature usually starts to get chilly as the average temperature drops around 9 - 21°C, the city is very colorful during this season because the autumn leaves are blooming.
• Winter falls between December and March, the average temperature ranges between 0.6 - 7.8°C.

Getting Around in Daegu

Daegu International Airport is the gateway to Daegu. The airport is also a military base for the ROKAF’s 11th Fighter Wing. The airport operates domestic and also has several international flights. Daegu International Airport connects Daegu with major cities in Asia such as Tokyo, Bangkok, and Shanghai. Budget airlines that operate flights in the airport are T’way Airlines, Tigerair Taiwan, VietJet Air, and Asiana Airlines.

Daegu International Airport is located on the east side of the city. To get to the downtown area, tourists can take bus No. 401, the fare is 1.100KRW. Tourists can also take a taxi, it usually takes 25 minutes to reach the city center and the fare is around 7.000KRW.

After arriving in Korea, tourists should purchase a T-money card from vending machines in the subway or convenience store. The card will help and save tourists from the hassle of buying single-journey tickets. The card can be used on subways, public buses, and in most taxis.

Daegu provides a City Tour Bus for tourists which passes may cultural sites and tourist attractions. It departs from Daegu Tourists Information Center, Dongdaegu Train Station, and Bandwoldang at 11.00 am each day. It should cost around 5.000KRW. Daegu has three subway metro lines and the subways run from 05.30 am to 11.30 pm.

Taxis are easy to find and relatively cheap. A taxi ride gives more flexibility for tourists. People in Daegu do not use street numbers so it can get pretty confusing, make sure to know the nearest landmark to your destination for directions.

Tourist Visas in Daegu

Foreign citizens of 107 countries under Visa Waiver Agreements do not need a visa to enter South Korea. Citizens of other countries that aren’t in the list (including China, India, and Russia) need to apply and obtain a visa.

South Korea provides an electronic visa application through Korea Visa Portal to simplify the process of applying for a visa. You can also go to the embassies or consulates of South Korea in your country.

Additional Information

• Local Currency: Korean Won (KRW) is the official currency. 1USD converts to 1149.00KRW.
• Money & Payments: ATMs are widely available. Tourists can withdraw money from ATMs with a ‘Global’ sign. Credit cards are accepted in hotels and established restaurants. Make sure to always carry some cash because market stalls and small restaurants only accept cash. Tipping is generally not expected.
• Local Language: The official languages of South Korea are Korean and Korean Sign Language. The script is written in Hangul. English is spoken in tourist areas. Most hotel and restaurant staff understands Basic English. All airports and train station signs are written in Hangul and English.
• Local Culture and Religion: 50.5% of Daegu’s population is Buddhist followed by Christian at 17.9%. The rest of the population are mostly not religious or follow other indigenous religions.
• Public Holidays: Daegu follows both solar and lunar calendars, but most of the holidays are held according to the lunar calendar. The city hosts a number of festivals such as Colorful Daegu Festival, Daegu Yangnyeongsi Festival, and Dongseongno Festival. The dates for these festivals differ from year to year.