Admit it. When your child is sick or develops an unusual rash, you’ll stop everything just to bring them to the doctor to make sure they are okay. When your car is broken, you schedule a trip to the mechanic. When you run out of food in the pantry, you’ll pass by the supermarket to get sustenance. When your iPhone crashes, you immediately demand a replacement from Apple.
However, if something is wrong with you, you resort to good ol’ Google, type in the symptoms and self-medicate yourself. Then you make yourself believe that you are feeling better.
Here’s the issue: you easily drop everything that matters when something happens to your child, your oven or even a laptop. When it’s time to look into your health, you probably come up with thousands of excuses to evade the doctors. Apparently, there are certain signs and issues, which require you to schedule that trip as soon as possible. They include the following:
1. Hormonal Issues
There will come a time when your hormones will stop cooperating. Examples of these are menstruation, pregnancy, menopause and taking certain medications.
The symptoms of a hormonal imbalance may come and go, but if it starts to take a toll on your life and affect the way you function, then you need to consult a doctor.
Hormonal issues that lead to irregular or heavy bleeding, extreme mood changes, loss of appetite, lack of concentration, insomnia, sudden weight gain, and reduced sex drive, among others, requires medical help. Make sure to discuss everything with your doctor for a proper diagnosis.
2. Unusual Vaginal Discharge
A vaginal discharge is a fluid substance that comes out from the vaginal opening. It is normal and indicates that your body is doing its part in keeping your genital area clean and healthy. However, it should be clear or white and it shouldn’t smell funky. It’s a different case if your vaginal discharge comes in color such as gray, yellow, or green and has an abnormal odor.
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If it has a clumpy texture and looks like a cottage cheese, then this should concern you as well. These are abnormal discharge and could be a sign of yeast infection, trichomoniasis, vaginosis or a sexually transmitted disease. Consult a doctor immediately as soon as you notice changes in your vaginal discharge. Your doctor needs to check the cause for such abnormal discharges and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
3. Foul Smell
Unless it’s almost or you have your period, your area down there shouldn’t smell as if you came from the fish market.
In fact, it shouldn’t be smelly at all. Otherwise, an odor coming from the area down south could mean something is up, and you need to see a doctor right away.
A funky smell down there could have tons of possible causes. It could be a sign of bacterial infection, such as bacterial vaginosis, the most common cause of vaginal odor.
It could also be a sign of trichomoniasis, a type of sexually transmitted infection caused by the trichomonas vaginalis parasite. Don’t worry. Antibiotics can save the day. Or it could be a stuck condom or a forgotten tampon inside your vagina, which although weird, is not impossible. Once your nose notices something off, make sure to have it checked immediately.
4. Uncontrollable Itching
There are instances where the area down south starts to itch. It could be an allergic reaction to your underwear material or the napkin you used didn’t go well with your skin. Skin reactions to feminine washes, soaps, or detergents could also make it hard to control yourself from scratching the area. All you need to do is to get rid of it and find a gentler product.
However, if the itch is recurrent and it comes with an abnormal discharge, then it could be a sign of a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis.
Make time to see your doctor to have yourself tested for a possible infection.
5. Vaginal Dryness
A dry spell down there is normal, especially if you are past your 40’s and almost in the menopausal stage. You might also feel dry in the southern area a few days before and after your menstruation, or if you are taking medications, which is also normal. All you need is a lubricant on your bedside table and to ask your man to spend more minutes down there and you are good to go.
However, there are instances when vaginal dryness requires medical attention. You can seek medical help if the vaginal dryness comes with pain, hormonal issues, and the dry spell is even drier than the Sahara desert. A condition called Shogren’s syndrome where the immune system attacks healthy tissues could also cause vaginal dryness and require some help from your doctor.
6. Vaginal Bleeding
Bleeding is okay as long as you have your period, but if after a week, you still have blood on your undies, this could be a sign of something bad.
Random spotting could be a sign of a hormonal imbalance after missing a birth control pill, or after rough sex. If spotting is persistent and comes with other red flags, this could signal pregnancy, infection or a polyp on the cervix. Bleeding after sex or spotting with an unusual discharge could also be a sign of sexually transmitted disease.
You should make that trip to the doctor for testing, especially for gonorrhea and chlamydia.
7. Pain During Sex Or Urination
Sex is supposed to be fun and pleasurable. At the same time, you should be able to urinate with ease. However, there are instances wherein pain persists and it makes sex uncomfortable, despite using lube and getting extra minutes of oral play. In that case and if pain is persistent, you might need to schedule that trip to the doctor.
If you feel pain during sex or urination, then this could be a sign of vaginismus or an involuntary spasm in the vaginal muscles. This could also signal infections in the vagina or problems in your cervix or uterus, or pelvic inflammatory disease.
Pain down there is also your body’s way of telling you that you might have an endometriosis condition or a sexually transmitted disease. This is why it is important to take that trip to the doctor so they can check to see what is going on down there, and recommend the appropriate treatments for your condition.
8. Loss Of Interest In Sex
There are tons of reasons why you’re not in the mood for some bedroom action. It might be your kids, your job, never-ending chores that makes you exhausted. It could also be a lack of sleep, relationship issues and even money problems. Worse yet, low sexual desire is an issue affecting up to 70 percent of women, but no one is talking about it, which makes it a silent epidemic.
When is it okay to see a doctor? It depends on you. If you wait and see, and notice an improvement in your libido, then you will be fine. After all, there are various techniques to help you get your game back, such as scheduling date nights, couples workout sessions, and getting some “me time.” However, if getting rid of stress and keeping the house clean are not enough, then it won’t hurt if you make that trip to the doctor.
9. Anxiety And Depression
Women are naturally emotional creatures. There are certain aspects in your life that could lead to depression and anxiety, thereby affecting not just your mood outside the bedroom, but also how you are in bed.
If you constantly find yourself saying no to your man at night,even if your body says you are fine, then consulting an expert could help you a lot.
Anxiety and depression can be due to various factors. Discuss everything with your medical practitioner, so they will be able to help you and come up with treatments that are appropriate for your needs.
10. Sexual Trauma
Fact: Millions of women around the world experience rape and other forms of sexual assault at some point in their lives. If you are a victim, then this could be a reason why you are apprehensive in bed. You might develop fear and anxiety just at the thought of taking your clothes off in front of a man.
A psychologist specializing in trauma or a sex therapist could help you in this department. They are able to help you get over your fears, and eventually help you become more at ease inside the bedroom. It may take some time before you are able to get over that fear, but it will surely come.
Given these situations, you may wonder exactly what kind of doctor or expert should you consult with to help you address your concerns. The truth is, there are various health professionals who could evaluate your condition, require you to go through a series of tests for the proper diagnosis, and come up with treatments to get rid of your issues. These professionals include, but are not limited, to the following:
Gynecologist- Sex Therapist
- Urologist
- Psychologist
- Family Medicine Physician
Keep in mind that although these are all medical professionals who could help address your issues in bed, these are still different individuals with different specializations.
Ask your general physician to make recommendations and schedule consultations to find the best person to talk to regarding your concerns.