8 Things Women Should Tell Their Doctors...But Don't.

Fact: Many conditions are invisible to your doctor unless you speak up about symptoms.

By Ginny Graves

Your doctor should be the first person to know that you take Saint Johnswort to boost your mood or are thinking about starting a family. Why? Your well-being depends on your being upfront with your M.D. about everything including details about your lifestyle and symptoms you may think are insignificant. No amount of physical poking or prodding is going to give your physician a complete picture of your health you have to speak up, says Susan Spear, M.D., senior vice president of medical affairs for Executive Health Exams International, a New York City-based rm that specializes in preventive health. The trouble is, 40 percent of women don't tell their doctors everything they should, according to a survey at the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Of course, being embarrassed to fess up to less-than-stellar habits including occasional cigarette use, which is the health habit women are most likely to hide is one reason why. But sometimes women simply don't realize which symptoms and lifestyle behaviors are important enough to mention. Here, the eight most common omissions patients make and why discussing them with your doctor can be a real lifesaver.