(ARA) – A new year is here and for many baby boomer women, that means getting back on track with their health and wellness – eating right, exercising and scheduling those overdue doctor’s appointments. However, a new survey reveals that boomer women may not be so quick to dial their doctor when it comes to issues with their personal health.
Only 16 percent of baby boomer women are likely to discuss a taboo topic with a physician. Additionally, more than two-thirds are less likely to seek out a physician if they consider their condition to be a “normal part of aging,” according to the TENA Boomer Women’s Health Survey, conducted by TENA, the leader in incontinence products and services.
In 2011, the first of the 77 million baby boomers will turn 65 years old. More than half of them are women, who as they age, may find themselves experiencing new and sometimes uncomfortable conditions which they consider to be a “normal part of aging.” Many of the personal health conditions that baby boomer women may experience however, such as bladder weakness and low sex drive, are not symptoms of aging and most can be managed with the help of a physician.
Once boomer women are in the doctor’s office, the stigma doesn’t cease. The survey also found that over one quarter of women felt uncomfortable, embarrassed or judged when they discussed a personal health issue with their physician. Furthermore, although bladder weakness and low sex drive ranked as the top two most embarrassing conditions to discuss with doctors, the same two conditions also ranked as the issues that were brought up the least by physicians.
“If doctors aren’t asking and patients aren’t speaking up, then women may needlessly suffer for years with what may in fact be a manageable condition,” says Dr. Cynthia Hall, MD, FACOG, Founder and Director of the Center for Women’s Continence and Pelvic Health at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. “I often have to coax information out of my patients to identify problems they may be experiencing, so I know that it is especially important that doctors spark the conversation because their patients may be embarrassed or reluctant to.”
Nervous about talking to your doctor about your symptoms at your next check up? Here are some tips from TENA on communicating openly and honestly with your doctor:
Don’t be timid, be tenacious: Talking about taboo health conditions, such as bladder weakness, can be hard, but you deserve to live your life free from symptoms that hold you back. Speaking up about the symptoms you’ve been experiencing will help your doctor help you to manage your condition. Not ready to talk to your doctor yet? Work your way up by confiding in a friend or family member.
Do your homework: Doing some research before your appointment could go a long way in helping you identify your condition and management options that you can ask your doctor about. Not sure where to start? Check out www.betenacious.net for information on the causes and symptoms of some common conditions that women experience, such as bladder weakness.
Take notes: Keep track of your symptoms and the times when they are most prevalent and bring those notes with you when you visit your doctor. If you get nervous, having notes there will help you stay on topic and remember the little details. Also, having notes to share with your doctor will provide more background on the condition – they may notice patterns that could indicate triggers or causes of your condition.
For more information about and results from the TENA Boomer Women’s Health Survey, visit www.betenacious.net.
