10 Embarrassing Problems You Don't Want to Tell Your Doctor, But Should
Talking about private health issues is part of going to the doctor. Some health concerns, however, feel a lot more personal than others. But whether it's a sexual problem, hidden rash or body odor, or a debilitating emotional issue, don't let embarrassment keep you from seeking relief.
Here, in no particular order, are 10 sensitive health problems you can discuss with a health care provider, who won't be shocked -- just ready to help.
1. You have an object stuck in a bodily orifice. It's probably not a patient's proudest moment, but hospital emergency rooms routinely deal with sex toys or household objects that become embedded in the body.
While any opening can be involved, "a lot of the objects are inserted into the rectum and get lost there," says Kate Patrizzi, a clinical nurse specialist in emergency services. "Other objects -- a dildo, an ice cream scooper -- are really inserted for the intention of pleasure but [patients] can't get it back out once they've put it in."
If this happens to you, don't be shy -- head to the ER. The staff can medicate you for pain, and they'll order an X-ray or CT scan to find out just how far the object has gone. They may be able to remove the item then and there, while surgery might be required in other cases.
[Read: A Guide to Sex Toy Safety .]
2. You've been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease. People frequently come to the ER to get checked out for sexually transmitted diseases, Patrizzi says. If a partner informs you that you've been exposed to an STD but you aren't showing any signs, you might be tempted to skip the health care visit and hope for the best. But it's important to get tested, Patrizzi says, both to get treatment if needed and avoid spreading the infection to others.
Some STDs, like gonorrhea, cause obvious symptoms, but other infections are silent. While genital herpes is more apparent during an outbreak, you can also get it from an infected partner who's not showing any signs. Chlamydia, another common STD, often occurs without symptoms.
3. You sweat to excess. It's normal to sweat when you're standing in the hot sun or waiting to give a public speech. But if you sweat a lot when you're not supposed to, it could be a sign of a condition called hyperhidrosis.
"If you find yourself changing your clothes frequently, or you're taking showers more than a couple times a day, you find your hands are wet when you're not nervous or exercising, or you find you can't hold objects," it's time to let your doctor know, says David Pariser, a dermatologist in Virginia Beach and Norfolk, Virginia, and founder of the International Hyperhidrosis Society.
It's important to speak up, Pariser says, because there's treatment available -- and so you know you aren't alone. Even if you don't have hyperhidrosis, heavy sweating can be a symptom of certain medical disorders or medication side effects, and it should be evaluated.
[Read: B.O.? Uh Oh! How to Cope With Body Odor .]
4. You're scared of sex after a heart attack. When recovering from a heart attack, patients often wonder when intimacy can safely resume. If you have a cardiac condition, don't wait for health professionals to talk about sex -- go ahead and ask, advises Elaine Steinke, a professor of nursing at Wichita State University.
Questions can include "How can I gradually get back into sexual activity?" "What activities can I do?" and "How can I make this easier?" she says. For somebody with heart failure who has trouble breathing, the answer could involve more upright positioning, for instance.
"Some patients may believe 'I'll never have sex again,' and that's certainly not the case for most cardiac patients," Steinke says.
5. Life's unraveling, and you're lonely. Suzanne LaCombe, a Vancouver psychiatrist, says that for her patients, sex isn't the hardest topic to broach. Instead, she finds, they're more troubled by a lack of emotional connections to others. These patients "really never felt like they belonged," she says. "They knew something was off. Human interactions are a little bit challenging. So they have small lives -- few friends, maybe not even that deep. They're challenged by relationships, yet lonely."
LaCombe, who practices a form of body-based psychotherapy, says it can take a few sessions before patients are prepared to talk about core issues. "They're going to move things closer to what's embarrassing, the things that are around the edge." She says therapy can improve patients' quality of life dramatically, once they speak up.
[Read: How to Spend the Holidays Alone .]
6. Your erection's lasting too long. Of all the possible side effects mentioned in all the drug commercials on TV, the "erection lasting more than four hours" is what people remember. But if you've ever thought, hmm, that doesn't really sound so bad, think again.
Priapism -- the medical term for an erection that doesn't go away -- is quite painful and can require surgery and even lead to permanent impotence if not treated in time, says Glen Stimmel, a professor of clinical pharmacy and psychiatry at the University of Southern California. Fortunately, priapism is a rare side effect. And while it's tied in consumers' minds to erectile dysfunction drugs, it's actually more likely to occur with trazodone, which is primarily used as an antidepressant but also prescribed to help people sleep, he says.
If a doctor prescribes you any new drug, for whatever reason, you should also talk to your pharmacist about how to use it safely and effectively, Stimmel says. But you don't have to voice your questions in the midst of customers lined up at the counter -- many pharmacies have separate counseling areas to afford more privacy.
7. You have a genital rash. Itchy rashes are bad enough. Rashes that occur around the penis, vagina, or buttocks can seriously ratchet up your discomfort. Whether it's a fungal infection like jock itch, an insect infestation such as scabies or pubic lice, or a condition like psoriasis that can occur anywhere on the body, the sooner you consult a doctor, the sooner you can stop scratching.
[Read: How to Describe Medical Symptoms to Your Doctor .]
8. You're ashamed of your teeth. "We can kind of cover up our smile -- we put our hand in front of our face or hold our lip down so people don't see what's happening with our teeth," says Tamara Berg, a dentist who practices in Yukon, Oklahoma. Some patients she sees are referred through the nationwide Smile for Success program, started by the American Association of Women Dentists to help women with disfiguring dental conditions.
"When they come in, most of them aren't smiling," Berg says. "They're embarrassed, they can't get a job; they've either neglected taking care of themselves or they've been put into situations where they don't have front teeth to smile with; their teeth are decayed and black. They just don't know what to do next -- to get back into the workforce or even to smile again."
These patients and others are often pleasantly surprised at how simple dental fixes can be, whether it's removing and replacing a tooth or using a filling to get rid of a spot, Berg says.
9. You're binge-eating and purging. People with bulimia use a variety of methods in an unhealthy attempt to get rid of the extra calories after food binges. Purging can take the form of abusing laxatives, enemas or diuretics, or it can involve self-induced vomiting.
Patients don't like to talk about bulimia, Berg says, but dentists can see its effects on the back side of the teeth, as stomach acid erodes the tooth enamel, which becomes very thin and translucent. "We are aware of that, and we talk to patients about it if we see signs," she says.
Bulimia is potentially life threatening and if you have symptoms, it's important to talk to your primary care doctor or a mental health professional as soon as possible.
[Read: How to Talk to a Friend About an Eating Disorder .]
10. You're worried about bad breath.
"Everyone wants to know if their breath smells," Berg says. "They'll ask the hygienist or they'll ask me. We smell all kinds of breath, sometimes even with the mask on, there are some that are worse than others." Usually the solution is often as simple as using a tongue scraper or a toothbrush to brush their tongues, because that's where bacteria form, she says.
"It's just like going to your family physician," she says. "You're afraid to ask that question -- but we get it over and over and over again. It doesn't embarrass me." No matter how sensitive your health issue seems, she says, "in the 19 years I've practiced, I've probably already heard that question before. So patients are afraid that they're the only one asking that -- and it's usually not true."
[Read: Help! I Have Halitosis! ]
Lisa Esposito is a Patient Advice reporter at U.S. News. You can follow her on Twitter, connect with her on LinkedIn or email her at lesposito@usnews.com.
