Most people put off visits to the doctor because they are suffering from unpleasant problems such as extreme body odour, or even a serious case of back acne, not to mention an STD. Being honest with a doctor can be especially difficult if you’ve been visiting your GP for a long period of time and the doctor has started to feel more like a friend. Then again, friends don’t usually ask us to take our clothes off or insert wooden sticks into our mouths (unless they have a warped sense of humour!).

Most people, if not all, suffer from nervousness and the extreme fear of humiliation when faced with going to a doctor about an embarrassing problem. Some problems are so humiliating, you wouldn’t even tell your pet parrot for fear it might repeat it. Many adults opt to travel long distances to the next town, just to see a doctor that they are never going to encounter in the supermarket, during dinner, or even at their kids PTA meetings.

Learning to deal with your embarrassment is something everyone has to embrace at some point in their lives, and even more so when you think you might have contracted an STD. Let’s face it: living with that itch for the rest of your life just isn’t going to work for you.

When it comes to making that vital booking to see a doctor, try to see someone who is of the same sex as you and of a similar age, this will make you feel more comfortable as you automatically feel that the doctor is more understanding and can to some extent relate to the circumstances that brought about the issue.

Secondly, keep in mind that doctors see naked people all day every day, sometimes even extremely unattractive ones. If you suspect you have an STD, you are probably the third case that day and the fifteenth that week. You can take comfort in the fact that the doctor will have probably forgotten all about you within a fortnight or have even confused you with the librarian suffering from diabetes.

It is also important to remember that under no circumstances do you have to reveal your reason for seeing the doctor to the receptionist. If she’s looking to get a kick out of you, remain firm and simply ask how soon you will be able to see the doctor, taking comfort in the thought that your doctor could never disclose your condition to anyone.

If you think it’ll help, take a friend along with you. Knowing that there is a familiar face waiting patiently in the waiting room for you can make the experience a whole lot less traumatic, and then once you done, make arrangements to do something afterwards, so that you have something fun and more positive to look forward to.

Considering that it will probably take you a whole two weeks, if not longer, to pick up the phone and make the appointment, remember to try and make your appointment first thing in the morning. This way you don’t end up spending your whole day ‘obsessing’ over the prospect that you may be infected.

Lastly, when you facing your doctor, inform them that you are embarrassed and then proceed to tell them everything honestly, including all your symptoms and just what you’ve been getting up to. The more information they have, the better the chances of determining exactly what is wrong with you and ultimately putting you on the correct treatment as soon as possible.

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