When you begin to suspect that you have an STI, your first instinct may be to keep it to yourself and see what you can do about it on your own. However, like any infectious disease, sexually transmitted infections can often spread and worsen over time. The last thing you want is for a treatable infection to make you even more sick. It may be difficult to talk about, but it’s an essential step toward healing. Here’s how we recommend talking about STI diagnosis and treatment with your doctor.
Prepare Ahead of Time
Research different STIs and their treatment options. Make notes about your symptoms to see if you can determine what you’re dealing with. Add in points for any concerns and questions you want to discuss with your doctor. This will make the conversation easier and ensure that you don’t miss anything important. If you’re not comfortable going to the doctor on your own, consider bringing a trusted friend or partner with you.
Choose a Trusted Doctor
Find a doctor who specializes in sexual health or infectious diseases, or at least one who has experience in the field. You can often find out doctors’ specialties online when doing your research. If you don’t already have a trusted doctor, seeking a specialist at an infectious disease clinic could be your best bet for finding a nonjudgmental doctor who is knowledgeable on the subject.
Be Honest and Open
Your sexual history may be an embarrassing subject to discuss with a doctor. However, it’s a crucial step in the treatment of STIs. Let your doctor know about any high-risk behaviors you may have partaken in or previous STIs you’ve had. Understand that the doctor is not there to judge you and won’t share the information with anyone else. The more information they have about your situation, the better equipped they’ll be to create a treatment plan that meets your needs.
Discuss Symptoms and Concerns
The main topics of discussion will be the symptoms you currently have and your concerns about the disease itself or the treatment options. Some infectious disease treatments are hard on the body, but they’re necessary to help you move past the sickness. STIs can manifest in many ways, so anything new and uncomfortable you’re experiencing physically is worth bringing up, even symptoms like fatigue and digestive trouble.
Discuss Treatment Options
Many STIs can be treated with a regimen of antibiotics or antiviral medications. Some require a short course of treatment, while others require long-term options. Talk to your doctor about potential side effects and precautions that should be followed during treatment. Find out how long you’ll be in the treatment phase. It’s important to know all this ahead of time so you can move toward healing.
Address Emotional and Mental Health
With the stigma surrounding STIs, it’s common for people to struggle emotionally after receiving a diagnosis. If you are concerned about your mental health, talk to the doctor about support groups or counseling options in your area. See if there are resources available to help you recover emotionally while you work on recovering physically from the infection. STIs are common and treatable, and seeking treatment is a responsible and necessary step. If you live in South Florida, the team at Infections Managed is here to help you start your healing journey. Call us at (954) 776-9992 or contact us online to make an appointment.