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Carol Orsborn - VN Strategist's avatar
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Carol Ors…
How do you talk to your doctor about intimate issues?
posted 06/11/2009, 06:16PM new!

What advice do you have for the VN community regarding screwing up the courage (pardon the expression!) and finding the right words to discuss with your physician challenges having to do with intimate issues?

There's a great series of bladder commercials running on TV right now, which shows several women's half-hearted explanations regarding why they're not doing anything about the fact they are having to take so many bathroom breaks. They say things like "I'm learning to live with it," "It's not that big a deal," etc. If women are so reluctant to bring up bladder issues with their physicians, how much more so with sexual ones? We've just run a great series of blog entries on the recent REVEAL study that actually gives statistics on the subject, and the answer is: most of us are reluctant to talk about sexual issues with our doctors.

That said, I'm sure some of us in the VN community are better at asking for help than others. If you've broken through the conversation barrier, do tell!

responses (2)

Hautblossom's avatar Hautbloss…
Hautblossom said to Carol Orsborn - VN Strategist 06/11/2009, 06:16PM new!

My doctor is a woman, which probably makes it easier. Every time I see her she asks me if there's anything I want to talk to her about (other than whatever issue I'm officially there for), and I've found it pretty easy just to say, "Yes, I want to talk about sex." I always practice my questions beforehand so that I'm really clear in my own mind what the question actually is, and also so I have the wording just right. It's easier when I don't have to think up my exact words right there on the spot.

I have a recurring problem with a blocked gland (I don't remember what it's called - I think of it as a lube-tube), so I've had lots of opportunities to practice talking to her!

HB

Carol Orsborn - VN Strategist's avatar Carol Ors…
Carol Orsborn - VN Strategist said to Hautblossom 06/11/2009, 06:16PM new!

Yes.  That hadn't occurred to me.  If you just see your gynecologist once a year, it's not really enough face-time (or whatever!) to establish a relationship, let alone trust.  And yet, if things are "okay", or at least "okay enough",  I don't think too many of us would make an appt. just to talk about sex.  Perhaps lube-tube is, in a way, a lucky break!

Pure and Natural