12 Things Women Don't Tell Their Doctors, But Should (5 to 8)

5. Why should your doctor know that Mr. Twithead, the-boyfriend-of-two-glorious-years left you for a Tata Young lookalike, and feeling totally shattered? Because your mental health is closely linked to your physical health. Depression often has physical manifestations like headaches, fatigue, body aches and pains, and lack (or gain) of appetite.

But unless you bring up your blues, your doctor won't make a connection between your physical ailments and emotional state. Often, patients don't realize that their physical symptoms are actually a cause of depression and sometimes they are embarrassed to talk about their emotional state. But what they don't realize is that 80 per cent of depression is easily diagnosed and treatable, all they need to do is speak up.

If you're suffering from headaches, aches and pains, fatigue, significant appetite and weight changes, and a tough time concentrating, and you've recently been through an emotional turmoil you then you must talk to your doctor. He could arrange for the right counseling so you are treated appropriately and without further delay.
6. Tell your doctor that your knees feel a little stiff in the morning.
It's one thing if your knees feel scrammed after a few extra push-ups at the gym; and it's quite another if your last workout was three months ago and you're still stiff every morning! It might just be a low-grade virus, a stretched tendon, or a sign your stilettos aren't doing it for you; but it could also indicate some from of arthritis. And since women suffer from knee problems twice as often as men (two out of every three individuals with arthritis are women), it's important that you bring up chronic stiffness with your doctor.

While most forms of arthritis, like osteoarthritis, usually come with age, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that usually affects young adults. Other symptoms include fatigue, lack of appetite, and a low-grade fever. Depending on what your physical examination or X-ray shows up, your doctor might suggest exercise, painkillers, or may recommend you to a rheumatologist for further evaluation.

7. Tell your doctor sex is sometimes painful.
Uncomfortable intercourse is on of those concerns most women don't tell their doctors about, either because they're embarrassed or because they think it's normal. But sex shouldn't hurt, quite the contrary. Not only will keeping mum about the pain affect your sex life and relationship, but it may also mean letting a serious problem go unnoticed. There are a number of possible causes of the pain, and while most of them respond to appropriate therapy, you have to be as exact as possible in describing your discomfort so your doctor can help you with the right diagnosis and treatment. For instance, if the pain is closer to the entrance of your vagina, it could be a sign of inadequate lubrication; and if it is accompanied by burning, it could be vaginal or yeast infection. Pain that is deeper in your vagina may be caused by fibroids, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, bladder infection, or pelvic inflammatory disease, a complication of Chlamydia infection that can if left untreated, result in infertility.

8. Tell your doctor that your cough lingers for weeks.
Most of us leave an irritating, dry cough at just that annoying, but harmless. Sure, it might only be a sign that you've sung along to too many high-pitched songs, but tell the doctor anyway. A persistent cough may simply be triggered by pollutants or allergens, but it could also be a sign of more serious problems like nasal and sinus disease (inflammation in the nasal passage or sinus cavities), fungal infections, bronchitis, asthma, reactive airways (an allergic reaction that often follows an upper respiratory infection), and in some cases, even lung cancer. If you keep your physician in the loop, he might do a chest X-ray to evaluate you lungs, heart, and chest to determine the cause behind your chest which might mean that you'll finally get rid of that damn hack!