Embarrassing Health Issues

American Demographics, July 1, 1998 by Nancy Ten Kate

Many health issues remain unmentioned and untreated because patients are uncomfortable discussing them with their physicians. More than one in four people admit there have been times when they wanted to talk to a doctor about a health problem but were reluctant to do so, according to Pharmacia & Upjohn. The top reasons patients say they are hesitant include embarrassment/sensitive topic (cited by 25 percent), their symptoms didn't seem important (11 percent), fear of bad news (8 percent), concern about wasting doctor's time (8 percent), and fear of treatment options (7 percent).

Ninety-three percent of physicians agree that serious medical problems could be averted if patients were willing to talk more freely. More than two-thirds (68 percent) of doctors say it is difficult to treat patients who are hesitant or too embarrassed to talk about their health problems.

Five health issues top the list of most embarrassing. Urinary incontinence is most difficult for people to discuss with their physician, although 13 million Americans suffer from it, 85 percent of them women. Women say they wait an average of three years before seeking medical treatment, and men wait two years.

The second most embarrassing health issue is prostate problems, which are common in older men. Men cite fear of the exam, fear of prostate cancer, and a fear that treatment will result in sexual problems as the reasons they delay seeking help. Sexual dysfunction (most commonly erectile dysfunction) is another difficult health issue, both for patients and doctors. Besides embarrassment, many people believe impotence is untreatable.

There are at least 20 sexually transmitted diseases that annually affect more than 13 million teenagers and young adults. While most are easily treatable, especially in the early stages, many survey respondents say they are too embarrassed or frightened to seek help.

Gynecological problems, including infections, menstrual complications, and menopause, is the number-five most difficult health issue. In addition to embarrassment, many infections remain untreated because women have no symptoms. In the case of menstruation and menopause, many women accept the conditions as part of being a woman.

The "Take Time to Talk: Barriers to Patient-Physician Communication" survey of 1,008 patients and 230 primary-care physicians was conducted in October and November 1997 by Louis Harris and Associates, Inc., for Pharmacia & Upjohn. For more information, contact Holly Shaw at (404) 875-1444, ext. 239.