Have you ever had to answer a more embarrassing question to your doctor without telling the whole truth? Below are five of the most common fibs in gynaecology surgeries that may at first seem really irrelevant to your treatment. Let's see what the truth is about them.
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"I don't smoke".
If you do in fact occasionally ask friends or colleagues for a cigarette, or if you smoke on the weekends in the heat of the party, you'd be better off not keeping this fact from your doctor. You may think that it doesn't really matter, because you don't smoke a pack a day, but it's important to know that there is no safety limit to smoking. Casual smokers are also in many ways more at risk than the smokeless population. If your doctor asks you if you smoke, it is for a reason. If you tell him or her, you are less likely to be prescribed hormonal contraceptives or other hormone-containing drugs, because even as a "sow smoker" you are more likely to develop a blood clot, which can cause a heart or even brain thrombosis.
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"I am in a monogamous relationship."
Painful sex, bleeding after intercourse, difficulty getting pregnant... typical symptoms of endometriosis, right? You might think you don't even need to tell your gynaecologist about your one-night stand, or that you've been treated for a sexually transmitted disease.
Well, unfortunately, as uncomfortable as it is to talk about, the fact is that even one unprotected act is enough to give you a nasty infection that can cause the symptoms above. If this is an issue, ask your doctor to check for scars or scarring from a possible past infection.
It's good to know that untreated infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea can lead to infertility, and HPV can even cause cervical cancer. Be honest with your doctor about both your past and present sexual habits.
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"My digestion is fine."
Another question your gynaecologist will ask you at your annual check-up, and you'll tend to say: of course, it's OK, even if you do have some unpleasant symptoms like bloating, diarrhoea or constipation, or even bloody stools from time to time.
You should not trivialise this phenomenon. Although it is true that there is usually no major problem behind the symptoms, since stress, poor diet and intestinal sensitivity alone can cause them, it is not worth trivialising the phenomenon.
You should especially tell your doctor if you see blood in your stool, because even a tiny hemorrhoid nodule can do this, but to reassure yourself it's also worth ruling out more serious causes, such as ovarian diseases with good and bad intentions, Crohn's disease, colon cancer.
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"I'm not taking any medication."
When the doctor asks you what kind of medication you are taking, be sure to list vitamins and herbal supplements, even if you don't give them much importance.I often hear from my patients that this or that capsule is "full of natural substances."
The fact that it is natural does not mean that it cannot be harmful, especially when taken in doses without medical supervision. This is especially true when supplements are taken together with medicines, as they can weaken or even increase each other's effects.
Don't forget anything, feel free to list all the things you experiment with at home and ask your doctor for advice.
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"I eat healthy."
After a diagnosis of endometriosis, a person is usually determined to make a lifestyle change. This is very good, because it is not a good thing to poison your body with chips and sweets.
But more than one of the endometriosis diets in vogue today unfortunately rejects the sulyk. The excessive restrictions of fad diets and cleanses, which have not been proven by research, not only damage the mind but also the body, causing vitamin deficiencies, fluctuations in blood sugar levels, dehydration, fatigue, depressed moods, feelings of weakness and abnormal muscle mass loss. Tell your doctor how you eat and listen to his or her advice. If you don't trust anyone, get a complete blood count: the little asterisks don't lie.
I wish you a lovely week!
Nóra Árvai
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