What to ask at a gynecologist's appointment: 9 embarrassing questions

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Doctors talked about what they are worried about, but most of their patients are often silent (and in vain!).

People are accustomed to discussing the color of the stool or, let's say, the nature of the pain in the teeth with doctors without undue embarrassment. But sexual health issues are still taboo for many.

Often women - even those who understand the importance of regular check-ups with a gynecologist - are simply embarrassed to ask the doctor what worries them. However, gynecologists insist 7 Things You Should Always Discuss With Your Gynecologist: they are the same doctors as a therapist or dentist. They will not judge you because of the problem that has arisen (if only because every experienced physician has seen hundreds of such problems in his practice). Experts will help you solve it. Or they will calm you down by explaining that everything is fine with you.

Therefore, feel free to ask the gynecologist the most embarrassing and stupid (in fact, no) questions. Well, to reduce the degree of embarrassment, doctors tell 7 Gynecologists on the # 1 Question Patients Ask about the topics that interest and disturb their patients most often.

1. What pain is normal with menstruation?

Painful sensations during menstruation are quite common. Up to 90% of women experience Primary Dysmenorrhea with cramps in the lower abdomen and chest pain during this period. In most cases, this is unpleasant, but in general it does not cause much discomfort.

However, for some women, menstrual pain goes beyond cramps and becomes a real problem. If the pain is so severe that it significantly reduces the quality of your life, and especially if it increases from menstruation to menstruation, be sure to tell your doctor about it. Such symptoms can be a sign of endometriosis, uterine fibroids and other diseases.

And in general, you should not endure the pain in silence. There are many solutions that can make you feel better. The gynecologist will probably tell you how to eliminate discomfort in your case.

2. It smells bad from there, why is that?

Vaginal odor is really an awkward topic. But it needs to be voiced. Especially if the smell has suddenly changed, became noticeably unpleasant or "fishy".

By itself, some amber is normal. Someone smells stronger, someone weaker, and perhaps the gynecologist will tell you that everything is fine. But a change in smell can be a symptom of a vaginal infection.

3. Do my labia look normal?

This is a common cause of concern: women worry that their vulva is too large, asymmetrical, or, for example, too dark in color.

The truth is that there is no such thing as a "normal vulva." Each woman's labia have an individual structure and differ in shape and size in exactly the same way as penises in men.

But if you are worried that something is wrong with you, talk to your gynecologist. It will help you regain your confidence.

4. One of my breasts is larger than the other, is it not dangerous?

Breast asymmetry occurs in many women, especially in adolescence (the difference is smoothed out with age). This is an individual and absolutely normal feature, there is nothing dangerous in it.

Nevertheless, you should definitely consult with a gynecologist if one of the breasts begins to grow or you find a distinct dense lump in it. This may be a symptom of tumor development.

5. I itch there, what is it?

Itching in the genital area can have a dozen reasons, including innocent ones. You may be wearing pants that are too tight. Or spend a lot of time at the gym wearing wet, tight clothing. Or maybe you switched to a new detergent and it doesn't work for you.

But there are more unpleasant options: itching is often the first symptom of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or fungal infections.

In general, if itching for several days, be sure to tell your gynecologist about it.

6. It hurts during sex, what's wrong with me?

Painful sensations that arise during intercourse, it is important to discuss with the doctor in exactly the same way as painful periods. The fact is that there are always reasons for discomfort, and some of them may indicate health problems.

Pain during sex is often due to vaginal dryness. Perhaps this is due to uncomfortable circumstances, for example, too short foreplay, due to which the woman does not have time to get aroused. In this case, the gynecologist will recommend to the couple ways to speed up and intensify arousal.

But sometimes hormonal failure also leads to dryness - a decrease in estrogen levels. It can be caused by the use of inappropriate oral contraceptives, menopause, unbalanced diet, excessive physical activity. If the gynecologist suspects this particular reason, he may offer you an alternative method of contraception or prescribe medications that will increase the level of the female hormone. And of course, he will discuss with you the necessary changes in the lifestyle.

Another option is that there is no dryness, but it still hurts to have sex. Here we can talk about ailments of the reproductive system - the same endometriosis or uterine myoma. The gynecologist will make the correct diagnosis and tell you how to cope with the problem.

7. Why do you need to know exactly how many men I had?

Of course, in reality, this question does not sound like that. More precisely, it is not even formulated at all. Women, having heard from the gynecologist the standard "How many sexual partners did you have?" The question "How long have you been sexually active?" also causes rejection: they say, why should a doctor know this?

However, this information is important. For example, those who are sexually active before the age of 18 are more likely to catch the human papillomavirus (HPV), an insidious disease that can lead to cervical cancer. Having a large number of partners also increases the risks. Therefore, the gynecologist may prescribe additional examinations for you.

8. I don't want to have sex, is that okay?

Low libido is common in many. There are many reasons for this: fatigue, stress, lack of sleep, relationship problems, depression … All this can be solved: the gynecologist will advise you on changes in your lifestyle or, if necessary, send you to a specialized specialist - the same psychotherapist.

But sometimes a decrease in libido is a purely physiological problem. You may be taking medication with this side effect. Or you develop a thyroid disorder that you don't know about yet. Also, a decrease in libido can be caused by hypertension, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes and much more. The gynecologist is competent enough to suspect such causes and prescribe the necessary tests and treatment for you.

An important rule of thumb: the more often you have sex, the more you want it. This is due to the release of endorphins during intercourse.

9. I urinate when I sneeze or cough, what should I do?

Urinary or fecal incontinence is a stressful situation that significantly impairs the quality of life. This often happens with newly-born girls, especially if the baby is large or the delivery required forceps. Another risk group is women entering menopause.

For some, the problem of incontinence goes away on its own. In other cases, medications will help to cope with it. Someone will need surgery. The gynecologist will determine which of the options is yours and, if necessary, prescribe treatment.