Why Women Hesitate To Talk To Their GPs about Sexual Health

A large number of young women avoid getting a medical exam or even help in serious cases, because they feel too embarrassed to discuss gynecological problems with their physicians. In a survey of 1,000 women, those between the ages of 18 and 24 are four times less likely to go see their doctor about sexual health issues than women between the age of 55 and 64.

About two thirds of the women were even embarrassed to speak the words ‘Vagina’ or ‘Orgasm’ to their doctor, and referred to their genitals as ‘Down there’. It may comfort you to know that you’re not the only one who feels uncomfortable and worried when considering going to a doctor, even if it is for something as routine as a smear test (which is for testing cervical cancer).

Here are a few reasons why women avoid doctors for their sexual health:

• Being afraid of what the doctor might find.
• Feeling embarrassed discussing your genitals due to pain, bleeding, vaginal dryness or Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Being afraid of pain, especially if you’ve experienced trauma in previous exams or surgery; sexual abuse; childbirth; vaginismus or any other psychosexual issues.
• Feeling excessive anxiety about revealing your genitalia to your doctor, especially if you are a virgin, celibate or asexual.

As scary as seeing a doctor might sound, the faster you get it over with, the quicker you will be able to begin treatment if needed. Or get the much needed reassurance, if you don’t have nay issues to treat.