BeSmartBeWell.com Encourages People to Talk About Sex More

CHICAGO, Nov. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- If you're like most people, you have little difficulty talking to your healthcare provider about your aches and pains. But talking to your healthcare provider about sexual health is a whole different matter.

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Talking about sex may not be a regular part of your doctor-patient relationship, but it should be. Sexuality is an important part of life, and maintaining good sexual health is important to both your physical health and overall well-being, say experts featured in a new video at BeSmartBeWell.com. Talking to your healthcare provider also can ensure you receive the care you need to prevent and treat sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

"Sexual health is about having a positive, respectful and responsible approach to sexuality and relationships," explains Elizabeth Torrone, PhD, an epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and one of the experts featured in Let's Talk About Sexual Health.

Sex comes with risks; your doctor can help lower yours
Sex and intimacy are a normal, healthy part of life, but there are risks associated with being sexually active. To maintain good sexual health, you should understand the risks and talk to your healthcare provider about lowering those risks.

Young adults, in particular, have an increased risk for STDs. "One in two sexually active young persons will get an STD by the time they're 25," the CDC's Torrone explains in the video. "Your provider can help you figure out for which STDs you need to be tested, and also help you figure out how to protect yourself against getting STDs."

At Be Smart. Be Well. STDs, young adults, like Ashley, share why they take sexual health seriously and why they talk to their healthcare providers about sexual health. Also at the site, real people living with STDs share how they manage their condition and how it impacts their sex life.

Your doctor is there to treat, not judge
Rest assured, no matter how embarrassing it might be for you to talk about sex with your doctor, he or she has likely heard it all before. "We've heard lots of different things, and nothing that you're going to say is going to shock us," says Yolanda Wimberly, M.D., Associate Dean of Graduate Medical Education at Morehouse School of Medicine and another expert featured in the new video.

And if your healthcare provider does make you feel embarrassed, guilty, or shameful, he or she may not be the right provider for you. "If your doctor is judgmental when you bring it up, then you really need to think about if that is the provider for you," Dr. Wimberly says. "You need to make sure that you're going to a provider who will be able to allow you to talk about the things that you need help with." 

Learn More
BeSmartBeWell.com/std provides practical information about sexual health and how to maintain yours. The website includes:

• Interviews with leading health experts
• Real-life stories of people sharing their sexual health questions and concerns
• A quiz to see how much you know about sexual health
• Reputable resources and links for more information

At the site, visitors can also sign up for the bimonthly Spotlight Newsletter and biweekly News Alerts for in-depth articles and breaking news on sexual health and other important health topics.

About Be Smart. Be Well.
BeSmartBeWell.com is sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Divisions of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

SOURCE BeSmartBeWell.com