The importance of recognizing the distress behind Mrs B. ‘s difficult exterior cannot be emphasized too much. If the damage that she believed that the birth had done to her body had not been explored and dealt with at that stage, she could well have continued with pain and possibly sexual difficulties for months or [...]

Not all complaints about condoms should be taken at face value. Mr D. complained that using a condom often left him soft with no erection and his wife was disappointed. He was married with two children and the doctor felt surprised by the complaint. Later he told how he had recently led a discussion about [...]

One learns that all is not what it may initially seem. The patient who is in a great hurry to get everything over and done with, or who asks a lot of technical questions may be afraid of allowing herself to feel. The angry patient may not necessarily be angry at the clinic staff but [...]

An unhurried, gentle approach is valued by this age group during what is often their first genital examination. The doctor should give some thought to minimizing discomfort. Choosing a warm, small speculum for the first smear is one obvious kindness. The question ‘Will it hurt?’ should alert the doctor to the possiblity that the patient [...]

Mrs H., 24 years old and mother of four children born in five years, was referred for domiciliary family planning. Though her husband worked as a carpenter, the family was in debt and social services were involved. At the first visit Mrs H. gave the impression of someone without any cares. She opted for the [...]