Sexual health

Have the following items ready

• Your Medicare card
• Your insurance
• Questions to ask the doctor and information about your health history
• ID - e.g., Drivers License/Passport
• Parents/Guardian permission if under 18

Answer questions honestly

It is not the doctor or any physician's place to judge your answers to these questions. You are entitled to your own choices.

Have you been sexually active in the last year?

Some follow-up questions may include:

• Which gender/s do you have sex with?
• In the past 12 months, how many sexual partners have you had?
• Do you have anal, oral, or vaginal sex?

What are you doing to protect yourself from STIs/STDs?

• Have you ever tested positive for an STI/STD?
• Do you use contraception? E.g., condom, the pill, an IUD or implanon.
• Have you had any vaccinations for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B or human papillomavirus (HPV)?

Is there something you’re worried about with your sexual health?

For example, itching, burning when urinating, pain during sex, bumps or lumps, sores or any other concerns?

Be open and honest about your sexual history

Realise that it is completely human and normal to take a sexual health check. You are doing your best to take care of your body.

1. Write up a plan

Before attending a doctor's appointment, write a plan for any questions you may have, any symptoms you’ve noticed and anything you want to know more about.

2. Ask questions

You are allowed to question your doctor about the specifics of a procedure – cost, insurance, the formalities, etc. You can also ask your doctor questions about the different types of sexual health tests and how often to get tested.

3. Make your space safe

If you are uncomfortable being examined by a male doctor, you are entitled to request the presence of a female triage nurse in the room. You may choose to not get a physical exam if you are not comfortable doing so. You can self-test, or choose another provider to do the test for you.

4. Follow up

For self-administered physical exams, you are allowed to ask the doctor/nurse any follow up questions to ensure you are doing it correctly. You're also allowed to ask for test results to be emailed/posted to you.

Right to access your own health information

You can request your previous healthcare providers to transfer over your files to your current provider for a low/no fee. You can always request copies of test results (e.g., blood tests, x-rays, ultrasounds) to be emailed for personal records.

Right to privacy

With only a few exceptions, anything you discuss with your doctor must, by law, be kept private between the two of you and the organisation they work for. This is also known as doctor–patient confidentiality.

Right to informed consent

Your doctor must fully explain your medical issue and treatment options so that when you make a treatment decision, you can give your ‘informed consent’. You have the right to seek a second opinion from another doctor.

Right to report

Finally, you can always report ill-treatment, discrimination, or racist or degrading behaviour by any medical practitioner towards you by calling the Health Complaints Commissioner on 1300 582 113.