By Michelle Goodman, 17, Beverly Hills HS

“I see a lot of doctors. Dr. Karelitz is my pediatrician, Dr. Fass is my endocrinologist, Dr. Bussel is my dermatologist, Dr. Curtis is my gynecologist and Dr. Robinson is an allergist with expertise in chiropractic medicine and acupressure. (I see him whenever I have back and neck problems.) And I know how hard it is to talk to all of them, especially when you have embarrassing problems and questions.

I’m the oldest kid in the waiting room
My family belongs to Kaiser Permanente, and where I go they make you see the pediatrician until you’re 18. I’m 17 now. I’m the oldest kid in the waiting room. I can barely fit into the chairs; all the little kids look up and stare at me, the giant child, in awe. It feels kind of funny when you have to talk to your doctor about sex, and this is the person who saw you naked when you were two! And then there are times when you don’t have any sex or other sensitive questions, and the doctors think you do. I went to a doctor one time because I had the flu and he started asking me questions about my period. Then he asked my mother to leave the room and yelled at me: “You’re pregnant! Admit it!” I had to plead with the man for 10 minutes to please stop yelling at me and to understand that I was not pregnant. He finally got the picture.

How do you talk to your doctor?
But when you really do have problems, how do you talk to your doctor? When my dermatologist wanted me to get birth control pills to clear up my skin and I needed my pediatrician to fill the prescription, my pediatrician wouldn’t do it, because she’s Catholic and against all forms of contraception. But at least I actually asked.

Don’t feel scared to ask
No one should feel uncomfortable talking to their doctors about anything. Most doctors have heard problems like yours many times before, and some have probably had the same ones. That doctor who thought I was pregnant felt that way because he had seen so many girls before, just like me, but who actually were pregnant.
If you have an embarrassing question to ask your doctor, it’s better to do so than to not ask at all. Getting sound medical advice can prevent pregnancy or AIDS. If you feel uncomfortable because your parents are in the doctor’s office with you, or if you think that your parents will find out about what you said to your doctor, don’t worry. You can always ask your mom or dad to leave the room – I’ve done it before and my parents didn’t mind. Your parents won’t know what you discuss with the doctor because, under penalty of law, doctors have to follow the “Doctor-Patient Confidentiality Policy.” If they blab, you can sue. Sometimes you have sensitive questions or problems. Don’t feel scared to ask your doctor.”