How honest are you with your doctor?

[Tiboer]

Do you have a trustworthy doctor whom you trust not to judge?

Do you go specifically to a gay-related health clinic?

[ballerva]

I have been going to the same (gay) doctor for 30+ years. He knows pretty much everything. 🙂

[Malesack]

Yes

No

i fear the gossipy office staff more than anyone, especially in my rural area.

[viking8x6]

I do not go to a specifically gay-oriented organization. When I have to find a new provider and/or organization, I try to find ones that are non-judgmental about gay issues, though I don't make a big deal of it. I've generally found people to be more sympathetic than not, including (maybe surprisingly?) in conservative West Virginia. I do switch doctors if one seems so obtuse about the issues that it becomes a lot of work. I am mostly honest with them, including about sex practices, though I occasionally withhold information that I think would be prejudicial and isn't a serious health issue. However, I'm the kind of guy (overeducated in science and medical-related fields) who mostly tends to drive my own healthcare decisions rather than relying on the medical establishment. 

[PozBearWI]

Indeed, I am similar to @viking8x6.  The details of how I got infected with HIV are, of course, irrelevant.  That has no bearing on treatment.  That I am infected does.  We both know the current standard of care is ARV medications.  And I am at a point with lab results where I am considering them.  In our discussion a couple hours ago he did check every med I take to see if there were any interactions with the other stuff I take.  

In particular when we meet in person, I am candid with my doc as ultimately the decision on what we'll do to treat something is up to me.  My doc is of the same mindset.  So I never "follow doctors orders".   He doesn't tell me what I "should" do.  He might reflect what he would do himself and why in some circumstances.  In fact, it is one of the attributes I look for in a doctor.  

The thinking "is it medically relevant" applies.

[theplayerking]

Yes. What I go in for my quarterly PrEP and STI checks he’ll ask if he also needs to swab my asshole. We don’t go into numbers or details, but he knows if I’ve been fucked by raw and anonymous recently. No judgement, just a clinical procedure. 
 

 

[cumdumpbear]

In the UK, we’re lucky if we see the same doctor twice. For generic sexual health, you generally see some judgemental upstart who looks down their nose at you when they ask how many sexual partners you have had. 400 is not the answer to give them apparently. 

[kitpig]

1 hour ago, cumdumpbear said:

In the UK, we’re lucky if we see the same doctor twice. For generic sexual health, you generally see some judgemental upstart who looks down their nose at you when they ask how many sexual partners you have had. 400 is not the answer to give them apparently. 

Yeah, Drs in the UK don't get it.  I'm not sure if it is because they dissapprove, or simply are jealous that we may have more sexual partners in one or two evenings than they have had in their entire life.  That said, I did have one male Dr who asked me how I managed to get 'something' (I would imagine??) and was on the return appointment very please to point out I didn't have 'something' in my dick any more so wouldn't be passing it on (his words not mine)!! [for clarity, I had abstained as advised like a good boi] 

[ffabbian]

I'm the UK and haven't been registered with a GP for years and for good reason.  Instead I do a face to face appointment online  in the comfort of my own home.  Its quick, efficient, friendly and  the prescription is sent to my local chemist. I don't know why a GP would need to know the details about my sex life.  They may be doctors l but they are also human  and unable to disguise some or all of their negative or positive beliefs  towards their patients behind that professional exterior.

My worst experience was  back in the mid 80s with a very old psychiatrist. The first thing he said to me was   " 20 or more years ago we  would have given you electric shock treatment but we know better now."  As my parents were paying  and never in the room I decided my only choice is to have fun with this and made up the most strangest stories and behaved erratically

 

[TXltnpozcumdump88]

I have a primary care physician who is in all seriousness just a wellness specialist. General medicine. I also have an infectious disease specialist who oversees my HIV test and diagnosis. 
 

I’ve had different HIV Specialists first two were great. They moved on to a different practice or something else. 
 

Third one was super judgmental guy. I dropped him after one visit. 
 

The one I have now. She is great. Understands me my life style, gives me confidence and welcome advice. A just overall amazing. 
But I prefer a male doctor over a female. I feel no matter what a male doctor understands me as a man. 

[Falls727]

I left my GP I had because he was always so judgemental about my sexual practices. He was a hetero man whom I knew also held very religious views. He kept telling me I would die of AIDS one day, BIGOT! I left his office for a gay-friendly practice and I haven’t regretted it once. They focus on my healthcare from a wholistic perspective. Best move I ever made!

[Rillion]

My doctors in SF were all gay friendly. When I moved to Reno the first doctor I had was not comfortable with my sexuality. So I dumped him and got a new one who was. Unfortunately she left town a couple years ago, so I need to find a new PCP. I've been using online care providers for my PrEP, glp-1 meds (which I tried for six months but ditched), and now for my testosterone. 

[partying.hard]

I have been very honest with my PCP period about everything. In fact, it turns me on.

[Pozguyinchi]

My Gp is gay and has a whore for a husband. lol. I see him at steamworks often in a sling taking all the dick he can get. I’m not sure if my Dr is hiv poz but he is very comfortable with it. My gp has been there for every STI.  

[StlBottom]

N0 and No.

My now retired [geriatric] pcp was a good doctor and was lucky to not have any issues that required sharing my sex life with him. Stl is the opposite of places like SanFran, imo

still looking for a replacement doctor he was replaced by a family practice trained  not geriatric.  I'm old, rest of fam rip