Tips for Talking to Your Doctor
We firmly believe that you should discuss all your vaginal health issues with your doctor. But we also know that it can be hard at times to talk to your doctor about your feminine health issues.
And lady, they do not make it easy for you! Its frightening, as you are lead into a room and asked to wait alone twiddling your thumbs and thinking of the upcoming diagnosis. The minute the doctor asks, what seems to be the problem, is it any wonder that the things that you wanted to talk to them are suddenly forgotten, even though they were important.
If you really want to get a clear picture to take control of your feminine health, then here are some suggestions that can help you to communicate better during your next visit with your doctor.
Plan a vaginal health calendar
Some basic questions that are asked by a doctor is, “When was your last period?”, “Are your periods regular?”, “How often do you have these symptoms?” etc. We tend to forget and remember the exact dates and spans of time. But this information can be very vital for both you and your doctor in evaluating your vaginal health. So, keeping a calendar of vaginal symptoms, periods, products used, etc. can be an excellent tool for you to use with your doctor. This will immediately show the start and end dates of your periods, the time span between your periods or the time you had an infection or foul odour. There are different apps, in the market which help you to keep a track of your vaginal health or you simply write it down.
Be clear in your information
Doctors prefer to hear about your problems in your own simple words. Avoid any miscommunication by trying to spell out your issues in medical language taken from the internet. Instead, explain your symptoms and concerns in your own simple language. It is absolutely ok to say “I smell weird down there” or “I have loads of itching” or “I have foul smelling discharge” etc. Talking to your Doctor about vaginal odour, itching, or unprotected sex can be a little hard at times. But be true to yourself and talk it out loud with your doctor. Believe it, they have heard worse and nothing surprises them. You will be doing a favour to yourselves and the doctor to receive the best medical care possible.
Be clear with your problems in simple words
Note down your concerns
If discussing verbally with your doctor seems embarrassing or you tend to forget all the important points, put everything on a piece of paper and hand it to your doctor. This makes easier for them to review your questions and respond easily. Make sure that you provide the list before your physical exam. Try not to extend your appointment time.
So, preparation is the key to a good medical appointment.
