medical pros and using correct terms for private parts

[UMaineTeach]

maybe TMI

I went for my annual exam and pap today. I also have had itchy labia lately with no signs of infection or rash. I mentioned it to the doctor by saying 'itchy labia' and he asked some clarifying questions, but kept using the phrase "down there" to ask more questions "how long has it been itching... down there? is the itching... down there bothering you often?"

He also decided that he wanted a swap to test for bacteria, but he'd already done the exam and I was dressed again, so he said the (female) MA would walk me through getting the swab myself when we were finished talking. When the MA came in she instructed me to take the swab out of the tube, "put it up inside myself", turn it 6-8 times and put in back in the tube and leave on the counter for her.

Am I over reacting giving then both a side eye? I mean we all know what parts they meant, but I felt like a medical office should be more, I don't know, medical - how long have your labia itched? insert the swab into your vagina...

[erbear]

I would side-eye both of those things. Medical professionals should use medical terminology. Hell, I make my 8th grade health class use the right terms, and they're kids.

[Deleted]

Honestly, it completely depends on the situation.

In general medical literacy is at about the 5th grade level, so that's pretty much how we're taught to often explain things to patients.

When a patient says "I've been itching" I don't always use the medical terms with my follow up questions. I'll say for example, "is the itch on the inside or outside of your vagina?" Because honestly using the word labia would get lost on many people.

Now if someone started out using the proper medical terms, I would probably follow their lead, but honestly, no examples pop in to my head of women using the correct medical terminology except for vagina, boob, breast or nipple.

I did have a lady recently use the word pussy and coochie repeatedly, which caught me a little off guard, but I did my best to keep a straight face

So no, I don't give doctors the side eye for using layman's terms with me when I'm at the doctor's office.

ETA: I do try to educate women on certain things when it's appropriate, but when I'm trying to figure out the problem and diagnosis, I typically am not going to go into an anatomy and medical terminology lesson due to time constraints. 

[mouse]

I gave my nurse the side-eye hard when a few hours after giving birth she asked to see my "bottom." I was a little confused, but started rolling over when she chuckled and said, "no, in front." Excuse me? I might have just given birth but I DO NOT have a FRONT BUTT.

[mouse]

Sept 25, 2014 19:45:22 GMT -5 @wandering said:

Honestly, it completely depends on the situation.

In general medical literacy is at about the 5th grade level, so that's pretty much how we're taught to often explain things to patients.

When a patient says "I've been itching" I don't always use the medical terms with my follow up questions. I'll say for example, "is the itch on the inside or outside of your vagina?" Because honestly using the word labia would get lost on many people.

Now if someone started out using the proper medical terms, I would probably follow their lead, but honestly, no examples pop in to my head of women using the correct medical terminology except for vagina, boob, breast or nipple.

I did have a lady recently use the word pussy and coochie repeatedly, which caught me a little off guard, but I did my best to keep a straight face

So no, I don't give doctors the side eye for using layman's terms with me when I'm at the doctor's office.

ETA: I do try to educate women on certain things when it's appropriate, but when I'm trying to figure out the problem and diagnosis, I typically am not going to go into an anatomy and medical terminology lesson due to time constraints. 

This would confuse the hell out of me. The outer vagina?

I'm still trying to figure out exactly what those cookies were displaying.

[Deleted]

Sept 25, 2014 20:03:41 GMT -5 mouse said:

Sept 25, 2014 19:45:22 GMT -5 @wandering said:

Honestly, it completely depends on the situation.

In general medical literacy is at about the 5th grade level, so that's pretty much how we're taught to often explain things to patients.

When a patient says "I've been itching" I don't always use the medical terms with my follow up questions. I'll say for example, "is the itch on the inside or outside of your vagina?" Because honestly using the word labia would get lost on many people.

Now if someone started out using the proper medical terms, I would probably follow their lead, but honestly, no examples pop in to my head of women using the correct medical terminology except for vagina, boob, breast or nipple.

I did have a lady recently use the word pussy and coochie repeatedly, which caught me a little off guard, but I did my best to keep a straight face

So no, I don't give doctors the side eye for using layman's terms with me when I'm at the doctor's office.

ETA: I do try to educate women on certain things when it's appropriate, but when I'm trying to figure out the problem and diagnosis, I typically am not going to go into an anatomy and medical terminology lesson due to time constraints. 

This would confuse the hell out of me. The outer vagina?

I'm still trying to figure out exactly what those cookies were displaying.

No, not "outer vagina." But inside, in your vagina or on the outside of it on the skin around the vagina. 

I mean I've gotten blank stares when I use the word menstruation instead of period, so to use the words labia, urethra, mons pubis, etc, is often a little too advanced in the patient populations I've worked with over the years and for the general population with a 5th-6th grade/below basic medical literacy. 

[Deleted]

Depends on who I am talking to. Medical terms might make some people uncomfortable. I meet people where they are.

[emisi]

I'd definitely give them the side-eye when they minced around using proper terms when you started out using proper terms. Frankly, the doctor sounds like he was more uncomfortable talking about your body than you were.

[lilibet]

Sept 25, 2014 20:32:07 GMT -5 @wandering said:

Sept 25, 2014 20:03:41 GMT -5 mouse said:

We aim for 5th-6th grade level with writing/explaining on the insurance side too. And honestly, most people I know irl don't use the proper terms, everything is either "down there", "private area", or just vagina. This place is pretty much the only place I ever hear the proper terms.

[Deleted]

Sept 25, 2014 19:43:25 GMT -5 erbear said:

I would side-eye both of those things. Medical professionals should use medical terminology. Hell, I make my 8th grade health class use the right terms, and they're kids.

When trying to illicit information it does no one any good to use medical terminology if the person doesn't understand what you're talking about. I'm not going to stop a patient and say can you please use the term mons pubis or 5th metatarsal from now on. Ain't nobody got time for that! I'd probably side eye a medical professional for using nothing but medical terminology as a patient because I'd think they lack common sense and communication skills. You have to meet people where they are. 

[icechalk]

Sept 25, 2014 20:56:05 GMT -5 emisi said:

I'd definitely give them the side-eye when they minced around using proper terms when you started out using proper terms. Frankly, the doctor sounds like he was more uncomfortable talking about your body than you were.

I have a hard time believing discussing an itchy vagina made an OBGYN uncomfortable

[sushi]

Yep, you follow their lead. In your case, I wouldn't have said "down there" because you started off with the correct term. But I'd also also be assessing if you actually knew what labia meant

I get a little perturbed if my providers don't use proper terminology if I've already told them I have a medical background. I love my PCM because he totally respects that background. I didn't like my psychiatrist b/c he respected it too much. He'd be all "so, what meds to you think you need." Dude, you're the doctor and specialist. Yes, I know the meds, but I'm not an expert in that particular field. But if you offer me xanax I'll take it (He never did lol)

[Deleted]

Sept 25, 2014 21:32:43 GMT -5 icechalk said:

Sept 25, 2014 20:56:05 GMT -5 emisi said:

I'd definitely give them the side-eye when they minced around using proper terms when you started out using proper terms. Frankly, the doctor sounds like he was more uncomfortable talking about your body than you were.

I have a hard time believing discussing an itchy vagina made an OBGYN uncomfortable

LOL. So true.

[stealthmom]

Sept 25, 2014 21:32:43 GMT -5 icechalk said:

Sept 25, 2014 20:56:05 GMT -5 emisi said:

I'd definitely give them the side-eye when they minced around using proper terms when you started out using proper terms. Frankly, the doctor sounds like he was more uncomfortable talking about your body than you were.

I have a hard time believing discussing an itchy vagina made an OBGYN uncomfortable

it's labia. Gawd. GET IT RIGHT!

[cinnamoncox]

I think it odd that you were using proper terminology and they still used "layman's" terms.
When I was pregnant at 19, my 80 year old ob and nurses always said "down below". And I'd be like :/
But when I was pregnant at 31, my younger (50's) ob used vagina.

[taratru]

I bet it's because a) lots of women don't know those terms or b) lots if women think it's icky to use them.

Both of which are, of course, ridiculous.

[carowen]

Ditto everyone, it's not weird to me that they'd use vague/layman's terms in general, but given that you started off using medical terms it's odd they didn't follow suit. As you described the conversation, he sounded strangely uncomfortable for an OBGYN when talking about your genitals.

The MA I don't side-eye as much since she's not a Dr. Maybe it's wrong of me, but I feel like a medical assistant is likely to be more comfortable with layman terms.

[pt716]

I understand why they do it, but using the euphemisms makes me much more uncomfortable than the medical terms.

[MWOS]

a couple months ago I had a doctor at convenient care tell me that people are now mixing upper half sex with lower half sex!

I feel sorry for his wife if he thinks oral sex is a Millenial invention

[UMaineTeach]

Sept 26, 2014 8:14:26 GMT -5 carowen said:

 As you described the conversation, he sounded strangely uncomfortable for an OBGYN when talking about your genitals.

He was my PCP (a DO).

He's a great doctor, really seems to be caring, interested in you as a whole person, and takes the time needed with every visit, but I don't know how many GYN exams he does. This is my 3rd year with him and he's nowhere near as efficient and speedy as the NP at women's clinics I saw before who do it all day every day.

[stealthmom]

Sept 26, 2014 9:16:23 GMT -5 MWOS said:

a couple months ago I had a doctor at convenient care tell me that people are now mixing upper half sex with lower half sex!

I feel sorry for his wife if he thinks oral sex is a Millenial invention

omg. That is brilliant. I'm gonna start saying that to dh. Hey honey. Wanna mix upper half sex with lower half sex tonight?

[Diana Prince]

I use simple terms frequently & it's not because I'm uncomfortable using the proper terms, it's because the few times I have used proper terms (or been in the room with a Doc & they use the proper terms) I've ended up with the pt. looking at me like I have two heads. It's just easier all around to keep it simple. If you know the correct terminology for all your body parts & want to refer to them that way, great! But the majority of my pts. don't, and a lot of them like refer to their vagina's as their "Cat" & their pee as "Water" though. Which is fine too. As long as we can be on the same page about your health I don't care what terminology you want to use.

[sushi]

Sept 26, 2014 16:46:24 GMT -5 stealthmom said:

Sept 26, 2014 9:16:23 GMT -5 MWOS said:

a couple months ago I had a doctor at convenient care tell me that people are now mixing upper half sex with lower half sex!

I feel sorry for his wife if he thinks oral sex is a Millenial invention

omg. That is brilliant. I'm gonna start saying that to dh. Hey honey. Wanna mix upper half sex with lower half sex tonight?

I know what my h would say. "I don't know what that means but you said sex twice. So, yes and yes."

[ringstrue]

Re: itchy labias- in certain cases it can be due to a dry vagina, and while it may start with itchy labia the whole area ends up being itchy and effected. I guess I'm assuming a lot but it could have been that for itchiness they just refer to and treat the whole area, so no need to refer to different places??