Embarrassing health questions you should never be too shy to ask a GP
Doctors have shared the health problems that patients are often too embarrassed to discuss.
It's always best to talk to your GP about any health concerns you might have, so they can catch any issues early and prevent them from getting worse. However, discussing personal health matters can sometimes feel uncomfortable.
This might even stop some people from visiting their doctor. But don't worry, medical experts have advice on how to approach these difficult conversations.
What health issues do people usually feel too shy to discuss?
Dr Nisa Aslam, a GP who also provides advice for Effercitrate Tablets for cystitis symptoms, says that people often feel awkward discussing personal health issues. These can include sexual and reproductive problems like vaginal thrush, and for men, difficulties in achieving and maintaining an erection.
"However, health issues related to the bowels such as constipation and diarrhoea to problems associated with our urinary tract like cystitis, are equally health areas that patients are embarrassed to talk about," Dr Aslam explains.
Dr Michael Mosley shares exercise that can cut cholesterol and blood pressure
How can you talk to your doctor about embarrassing problems?
Doctors don't have much time for each appointment, so it's crucial to bring up your issue right away. This will help you make the most of your visit. Dr Aslam advised: "Don't worry if you haven't got medical words to express yourself. Say something like, 'I have pain on passing urine', or 'I have pain when I pee', or 'I am having some problems during sex', or 'I have pain when I try to have a poo'."
Phil Day, from Pharmacy2U, also said: "Write it down in advance. It's less likely that you'll get a bit flustered, go off on a different track or start thinking more about the emotional reaction rather than the actual stance. The worst thing would be to leave the consultation room and think afterwards, 'Oh, I wish I said that', or 'I forgot to mention this' it might have been key."
How can GPs help with this?
To make a patient feel less shy, Dr Aslam starts by asking, 'How can I help you today?' She explained: "When the patients seem [ill] at ease, I remind them that everything they say will be confidential I see a huge range of health issues and will likely have come across their issue before."
"In terms of embarrassing treatments, I use simple language. So, for cystitis I'd talk about pain passing water, and how often they pass water. Treatments are only effective if used properly so patients need to understand this, no matter how embarrassed they are. So, if a woman needs to tackle cystitis in its early stages and antibiotics are not appropriate, I recommend effercitrate tablets which are available over the counter. I tell them it's a tablet containing potassium citrate and citric acid which they have to dissolve in a glass of water."
"I explain that the ingredients make the urine more alkaline, helping soothe the bladder and lining of the urinary tract (or waterworks) improving the pain and discomfort of cystitis."
How might seeing the same GP help with this?
Communication skills are a key part of a GP toolbox, so building long-term relationships, trust and rapport is important. Mr Day said: "I think the continuity of care angle is important too. It gives you a better understanding of the patient's medical history and needs. You've built up that rapport and trust more quickly and can make better use of that limited consultation time."
"If a long-term patient person seems more worried than usual or their mood and mannerisms are off, that would be something that can be picked up on and help a GP with a diagnosis. Pharmacists and doctors do this day in and day out, so they are quite desensitised. You may have just one embarrassing question a year, but they hear these things every day. We are specialists at putting you at ease."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
