Be in control of your sexual health.
When you go in for your doctor’s visit you should be prepared to discuss your sexual health. The best way to do this is to have questions ready ahead of time. Do you want to know more about bacterial infections? Is something causing your direct concern? These are things you should be asking of your doctor. Also, don’t be afraid to start the conversation about sexual health. Your doctor may not always initiate the talk right away. If you don’t ask the questions, you may never get the answers you need.
Don’t let fear stand in your way.
Sometimes, patients are afraid of what the doctor will say. Studies have found that many patients will wait until the end of their visit to bring up the topic they originally came to discuss. Often times people are nervous or anxious and will avoid the discussion they actually want to have. You can prevent this from happening by stating your concerns at the beginning of your visit. This will give you all of the time that you need to have this conversation. Don’t be afraid of what your doctor will say. Sometimes, even if an issue seems like a big deal, it may have a simple fix. If you are too afraid to ask the questions
Remember the Doctor-Patient relationship means you get privacy.
In today’s world of social media and WebMD, people can find themselves asking questions online in a very public way. HIPAA guidelines are in place to maintain your privacy when visiting the doctor. The Doctor-Patient relationship means that anything you discuss with your doctor is considered confidential. This can help put at ease any hesitation to discuss your sexual health with your doctor.
It is very important to discuss your sex life and your sexual health with your doctor. There are also steps you can take to prevent the spread of STDs. The first step people should take towards protecting their sexual health is to practice safe sex. Unprotected sex increases the risk of transmitting STDs and HIV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that those who engage in sexual activity should practice safe sex with the use of latex condoms. Having an STD and letting it remain untreated can have long term health effects as well. The best way to know whether or not you have an STD is to have STD testing performed. All people who are sexually active should be aware of their current sexual health status.