Empowering Women’s Health in Saudi Arabia | Comprehensive Healthcare Services

• Healthcare for Women
  • Women’s Healthcare and its Challenges
    • Access to women’s healthcare 
    • Healthcare Insurance for women’s 
• Gynecology
• Contraception and Women’s Health
  • Birth control
  • The Morning-After Pill
• Maternity Care 
• Breastfeeding 
• Fertility Treatments 
• Abortion Laws in Saudi Arabia
  • Getting an Abortion in Saudi Arabia
• Menopause 
• Cancer screenings 
  • Cervical cancer
  • Screening for Breast Cancer 
  • Screening for Ovarian Cancer 
• Cost and Availability of Feminine Hygiene Products
• Women’s Clinics and Healthcare Centers 
• Mental Healthcare for Women

Specialized healthcare for women in Saudi Arabia is comparable to that available in the Western world. Despite the slightly limited role of women in economic and commercial activity, ex-pat women will find they are well taken care of in their health matters.

This article helps to guide and provide information about women’s healthcare in Saudi Arabia.

Healthcare for Women

When moving to Saudi Arabia, all persons, especially women, need to adjust to the rules governing when they can go to the malls and where and when they can drive.

These rules can sometimes appear vague and affect ex-pats’ quality and access to women’s general healthcare in Saudi Arabia.

However, the bright side is that Saudi Arabia hires international professionals extensively, so the healthcare professionals you will come across mainly speak English. Therefore, you won’t have any issues with communication.

The Saudi government has heavily invested in its healthcare system, importing the most high-tech machines and bringing in the most skilled international medical professionals.

With some variation of quality of care, you will generally experience healthcare at par with any developed country. 

Read: A guide to healthcare systems in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi health system’s only challenge is the chronic shortage of medical staff. With increased life expectancy and a rising population, Saudi Arabia always brings in the best doctors and other staff to meet the system’s demands.

Women’s Healthcare and its Challenges

The cultural segregation of Saudi Arabia affects the speed at which healthcare can be availed in the Kingdom. The women in the Kingdom tend to suffer from vitamin D deficiency as they cover their bodies from the sun, and exercise isn’t always a priority given the intense sun.

These reasons combined have caused a rise in Hypertension, diabetes, and other inactivity-related illnesses.

The strict adherence to gender segregation sometimes could affect the speed of healthcare access; for example, male paramedics may not enter an all-female space, leaving the female patients to wait for female paramedics.

Though this won’t happen every day – or ever- it is an essential factor to remember.

Access to women’s healthcare 

Women-specific healthcare services in Saudi Arabia are offered at speciality clinics or within larger hospitals and healthcare centres.

Do your research and check recommendations before picking a particular care provider. Generally, more prominent public hospitals with larger budgets offer some of the best care.

Healthcare Insurance for women’s 

Health insurance is a requirement dependent on the ex-pat’s job contract. As detailed earlier, certain aspects of healthcare, such as maternity costs, may not be covered by your policy; this will depend on your insurance policy.

You must have an insurance policy well suited to your future needs. Although public hospitals are free and for locals only, they also have some of the most specialized care and can be available to ex-pats, requiring them to pay the necessary fees.

Gynecology

Finding a gynecologist you will be comfortable with is essential in any country. Here in Saudi Arabia, you have to go through your insurance company, and if, for some reason, the policy finalization takes time, then for your urgent needs, you can still visit the doctor but will need to pay cash to be seen.

Therefore, many options are available; we advise that you ask within your ex-pat network or online forums for recommendations for choosing a care provider. Ensure they accept your insurance, and you should be able to make an appointment directly with them.

Contraception and Women’s Health

Birth control

Practicing birth control is permitted in the Kingdom, though availability may vary depending on the city and the pharmacist.

The pill is the most common option, fo