Preparing for an appointment

Most people don't feel comfortable sharing the details of their sexual experiences, but the doctor's office is one place where you have to provide this information so that you can get the right care.

What you can do

• Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, ask if there's anything you need to do in advance.
• Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
• Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements you're taking.
• Write down questions to ask your doctor.

Some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• What's the medical name of the infection I have?
• How is it transmitted?
• Will it keep me from having children?
• If I get pregnant, could I give it to my baby?
• Is it possible to catch this again?
• Could I have caught this from someone I had sex with only once?
• Could I give this to someone by having sex with that person just once?
• How long have I had it?
• I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
• Should I avoid sexual activity while I'm being treated?
• Does my partner have to go to a doctor to be treated?

What to expect from your doctor

Giving your doctor a complete report of your symptoms and sexual history will help your doctor determine how to best care for you. Here are some of the things your doctor may ask:

• What symptoms made you decide to come in? How long have you had these symptoms?
• Are you sexually active with men, women or both?
• Do you currently have one sex partner or more than one?
• How long have you been with your current partner or partners?
• Have you ever injected yourself with drugs?
• Have you ever had sex with someone who has injected drugs?
• What do you do to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?
• What do you do to prevent pregnancy?
• Has a doctor or nurse ever told you that you have chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis or HIV?
• Have you ever been treated for a genital discharge, genital sores, painful urination or an infection of your sex organs?
• How many sex partners have you had in the past year? In the past two months?
• When was your most recent sexual encounter?

What you can do in the meantime

If you think you might have syphilis, it's best to avoid sex until you've talked with your doctor. If you do engage in sexual activity before seeing your doctor, be sure to follow safe sex practices, such as using a condom.