Tips and Advice
This is a compiled list of the tips and advice that can help make accessing various kinds of sexual and reproductive health information and services a little easier
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“There are always places for you with people who understand. You are not alone in any of this”
Navigating Clinical-Based Reproductive and Sexual Health:
Not everything will help or work the way you hope it will- “Sometimes you have to try some different options before you find the one you like best! But your primary care doctor can usually help you with any reproductive health needs, as can your gynecologist if you have one”
“Practice asking hard/embarrassing questions beforehand (out loud)! It’s easier to say something if you have said it out loud before”
3. “Community is a powerful medium of normalization. Sharing with your friends that you get tested regularly removes the stigma from those conversations and emphasizes the importance of knowing your status”
4. “Not being afraid to talk to my friends and partners about sex [has helped me]! The more open and honest conversations we have, the more we can learn from each other. Then, when I do talk to a doctor about sexual health, it’s a conversation I’ve already had with my friends or partners, and I know what questions to ask”
If you want or need to switch physicians, there are ways to ensure your prescriptions while you are switching over or looking for a new provider. Websites with telehealth options can get your prescriptions or you can often ask for several refills in advance from your provider before you switch to make sure you are taken care of
Many gynos [and doctors] will take telehealth appointments if you have questions about birth control or other things that don’t necessarily require a physical exam. Often you can get into these appointments quicker than scheduling an in-person and this can be really helpful if you have questions you want answered from your doctor or want to consult with them”
“Look for local organizations with sliding scales or a Planned Parenthood if you’re nervous about pricing and/or stigma”
8. “Research all contraceptives that are available so that you can make an informed, personal decision that is not pushed on to you or presented as the only option”
9. “It may feel like a quick/rushed appointment. Come prepared. Have a primary complaint or purpose identified to help steer the conversation. You may leave feeling small and disappointed”
10. It is helpful to have basic information about your reproductive system and have notes about past sexual activity and history. If you menstruate, be aware of your menstrual cycle and any discharge or other fluids if possible
10. Go into the appointment with a clear goal in mind → what do you hope will happen and what do you hope to leave with
Write out specific questions or topics you want to cover in the appointment and don’t be afraid to read off it in the moment
“Keep a symptom journal if seeking a diagnosis” - try to keep notes about what you are noticing, when it is happening and symptoms you are experiencing
Try to be really clear and specific about what information you have found so far and what you are experiencing
14. I would recommend asking to look at [the speculum or other tools] and understand it, if not holding it and examining it yourself before your own procedure! Once I understood how it worked, I wasn’t so intimidated” - you can also ask for a walkthrough of the tools and how and why they are being used before an exam
15. Make them take notes! Ask your provider to put important information that you told them in their notes- you can tell your provider “I wanted you to put it in your notes that I told you ___ so that it is documented and on record”
16. “Exaggerate your pain if that’s what makes them take you seriously”
"Don't allow embarrassment to get in the way of good care"
If you have questions later you can usually call your doctor’s office back with further questions or set up another appointment- it is totally okay to think of a question after the fact!
“The nurses and doctors have heard it all and seen it all, you will not shock them by telling them about your body or your experiences. They are there to help you, not to judge you. Don’t allow embarrassment to get in the way of good care”
Navigating Online Information:
1.When googling information, try to find sources that are .org, .gov or .edu --> try to look for cited sources and studies to verify where they are getting their information from
2. Many hospital and medical schools have publicly accessible information that are written to be understood by patients
3. Social media can be a useful source when used with caution. Social media tends to reflect people's experiences, meaning that while it can provide you insight, it may not be medically accurate for everyone
4. Try to verify the information or products promoted on social media by googling them- are they backed up by reliable sources?
5. Google the person who is writing about or promoting a product or claiming something- what is their goal? are they trying to promote a product or gain likes? Consider their goal and then decide if you can trust it
6. Trust your judgment!
For more information, check out the National Institute for Health's advice on online sources here:
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