In the Health & Fitness section of today's Courier-Journal, there's an article on symptoms that patients are often reluctant to discuss with their doctor(s) because of embarrassment. I'm sure I don't need to detail what kind of symptoms we're talking about here, but sexual problems are usually one of the biggies.
I heard a gynecologist recently describe what she calls "doorknob questions". Those are the questions that women ask when their exam is complete, prescriptions are written, and their hand is on the doorknob as they prepare to walk out the door. "Oh, by the way, is it normal to have pain during intercourse?" That's really not a 'by the way' kind of question, but it's one that may have generated too much awkwardness to bring up any sooner.
If you're having any problems of a sexual nature, it's important to bring those to the attention of your doctor. It helps to have a doctor your comfortable with - which could even mean changing doctors. Put some thought into how you might bring up the touchier topics. You might want to start by saying, "This is kinda hard for me to talk about, but....." That gives the doctor an opportunity to help put you at ease. Remind yourself that it's probably nothing the doc hasn't heard before. And talking about sex with your doctor is good practice for talking about sex with your partner. It's ok to feel embarrassment - just don't let it stop you from talking.
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