Although at first blush the challenge of talking with your doctor about embarrassing medical topics seems simple enough, for some people, it can be very difficult.

Hillary, for example, had what’s now called a shy bladder. She had not used a public restroom in over 20 years. She was too embarrassed to talk to her doctor about this; instead, she remained a prisoner to her bladder.

Tom had some sexual side effects from his blood pressure medicine. Instead of talking with his doctor and getting a different medicine, he just stopped taking it. The doctors wonder if this might have contributed to his heart attack.

Jerry noticed his loss of appetite and sleeping problems as his caregiver responsibilities for his aging father mounted. He wondered if he might be depressed, but dismissed the thought because real men don’t get depressed.

Imagine how each of these stories might have been different if these individuals who suffered in silence could have talked with their doctors.  Here are 6 tips that can help you talk with our doctors about embarrassing medical topics:

1. Own the embarrassment.

Tell your doctor, “This is a taboo topic in our family, so it’s hard for me to ask. Is it normal to have a funny smell coming from your belly button?”  

2. Find the words.  

Our doctors speak a specialized language acquired through years of training. Sometimes patients are embarrassed because they don’t know the “right words” or have a hard time describing the problem.  Remember that your job is to communicate. You don’t need to know the fancy words to do that.

If a patient told our doctors, “Dad had an operation on the dingle-ball thing at the back of his throat”, they would know just what he meant and the patient would seem relieved when the doctor replies, “Oh, you mean the uvula. ” 

The best way to make sure you and your doctor understand each other is to use anatomically correct words. Get a basic anatomy atlas.

3. Practice saying the words.

Sometimes embarrassing words can be hard to get out of your mouth.

An example will be: Gertrude, a 90-year-old patient told our doctor, “You youngsters don’t understand how much things have changed. When I got breast cancer in the 1962, the words ‘breast’ and ‘cancer’ were not uttered in polite company. ” Some words are still embarrassing to say. Practice saying these words out loud when you’re alone!  That will make it easier to say them at the doctor’s office 

4. Find the right person to ask.  

You may have a good relationship with our nurse or our administrators at Victoria Medical Centre. You can bring up the sensitive topic with them.

Say, “Damien, could you please give the doctor a heads up. I want to know why I should say no to those steroids my buddies at the gym are offering me. I would love to look like they do. ” 

5. Find the right way to ask.

Maybe it’s easier for you to drop a note or a cartoon to our doctor rather than ask in person. Find the style that works best for you.

6. Remember that our doctors are there to help you, not to judge you.

Our doctors have heard it all before. I promise! Our doctors will not think less of you for asking an embarrassing medical question; in fact, your doctor with think more of you for overcoming your fear and helping you take charge of your health.