Did the doc get my STD diagnosis WRONG?

HEY BESTIE: I recently went to a doctor to talk about something I noticed ‘down there’. The doctor seemed rushed, took a few swabs and told me that it might be an STD — what the doctor didn’t hear was that I haven’t been sexually active in over a year. I was given medication and sent away. I knew that this wasn’t the case but now I am not sure if I should go back to my doctor or see someone else.

Thank you for taking the time to ask this question. Last week was Women’s Health Week and I had the privilege of speaking at a few great events promoting the concept of being gynae-aware. As a sexologist, I love opportunities in which I can help educate others to feel empowered about themselves, their sexual health as well as their mental health.

I feel like this question is perfectly timed for me to be able to do that. This is an article for both women and men… there’s no discrimination here. Everyone needs to be gynae-aware for themselves, their partners and their friends.

I often say that there’s 3 areas that you need to be confident in, in order to speak to others about your sexual health and wellbeing – the gut, the head and the voice. Let me explain….

1. The Gut: Your body is yours. You and only you, know it best. You must take an active approach to listening to your gut instincts. If you feel that something is off, doesn’t seem right, seems out of place but you just can’t put your finger on it… trust your gut and explore the situation more. If you think something isn’t right, you are probably right.

2. The Head: Education is the key to empowerment. You need to educate yourself about what the proper words are and how your body is meant to work. Once you do that, you can then properly communicate to health professionals about your concerns to improve the situation. Try to refrain from saying ‘down there’ and be open to saying ‘my outer labia is…’ a clear and direct approach is strongly recommended.