I’m a sexual health nurse - Ask me anything

[seenitallandmore]

Ask me anything

Do you ever form a judgement when you see people repeatedly or hear them describe a potentially dangerous situation? Or are you just glad they’re checking and ensuring they won’t pass on anything potentially?

Generally just glad they’ve come in. Honestly yes do feel a bit uoset when some blokes come in disparaging women they’ve shagged but try not to let that show.

Thank you, I’d always assumed that was the case but nice to hear it

What is your take on why people are so woefully uneducated about sexual health and sex in general? I've known university educated women who thought that we pee out of our vaginas and grown men who honestly believed you couldn't get an STD from oral.

Why is this and what can be done about it?

Any entertaining stories you can share without giving too much away? :)

Why do healthcare professionals seem to promote the intra-uterine system (e.g. Mirena) over other forms of contraception?

Can you not tell us any funny or cringey stories please? I like to think when we go to these appointments, we can trust that our healthcare providers will be ethical and that experiences will not be used as entertainment fodder outside of those four walls. I don't want to hear things like that so that's all I ask- thank you

@TakenForSlanted: I reckon it’s got something to do with stigma, so much of sexual health and sexuality are forbidden and embarrassing to talk about that people never admit they don’t know where wee comes from. And there can also be a lot of shame in attending clinic and admitting that especially if you’ve got a judgmental nurse or doctor, so it just goes on in a bad cycle. I think it helps to be more open about these things, sexual education from an earlier age, destigmatisation in general...

@pearldeodorant, see question below-don’t want to humiliate anyone, and really there’s not much that’s funny as you might imagine. I reckon this stereotype contributes to stigma and shame in seeking help when needed from sexual health service

@thefirstOHN, It is pushed because it’s so reliable and easy, fit and forget. However I believe this is sometimes to the detriment of women who feel pressurised to have it or complain if they aren’t satisfied.

Any opinion on copper coils?

How frequently do you find yourself having to examine people with poor ..err..genital hygiene ? Is it part of your remit to offer guidance or do you have to grin and bear it and are such occurrences more prevalent across certain age groups/genders etc ?

@rubydiamondsapphire, they’re brilliant as long as you don’t mind more cramps and heavier bleeds, also they’re the only long acting hormone free option. Generally wouldn’t recommend if you’ve already got very heavy cycles but some women are quite keen.

@arnoldthecat, do you mean cleanliness or grooming? Really for both I don’t say anything unless it’s related to care, for example if a lady’s come in thinking she’s got herpes but instead has massive ingrown hairs from shaving I’d discuss it with her. For cleanliness again I wouldn’t say anything unless relevant , for example a bloke who’s come in with pain on his willy and has copious smegma, id discuss cleaning with him.