I feel uncomfortable talking to my doctor. What do I do?

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PreparedPatient (Organization (Verified) ) - 08 / 01 / 2011

It can be hard to talk to doctors about our symptoms if they’re embarrassing or deeply personal, if they are about sexual activities or concerns, or if you fear you may be judged or criticized. But doctors deal with intimate personal information all the time. Whatever your problem is, the doctor has probably seen or heard it before. If you really can’t talk to your doctor about your problem, it’s probably time to think about finding a new doctor who you can trust.

For more advice about talking to your providers about symptoms, see our full-length feature article:http://www.cfah.org/hbns/preparedpatient/Vol3/Prepared-Patient-Vol3-Issue8.cfm

DrAttai (Physician - Surgery - Breast (Verified) ) - 08 / 09 / 2011

PreparedPatient your answer was excellent advice, and I think the article is a very helpful resource. I'd add that as physicians, we're used to hearing personal, intimate and embarrassing information - if you can't ask your doctor, who can you ask? We're here to give support and advice, not to judge. It's important to get answers to your questions. And I agree - if you don't feel comfortable opening up to your doctor, it's probably time to find a new one!
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