"Malayo ito sa bituka."
Filipinos are familiar with the saying, often used to describe something that doesn’t feel urgent enough to address right away. It reflects a common Pinoy attitude: the tendency to put off doctor visits or avoid check-ups altogether.
It’s easier to deny the symptoms or ignore the warning signs. “Mawawala din naman ito.”
But the truth is, when it comes to our health, procrastination can have serious consequences.
Delaying visits or dismissing symptoms doesn’t just prolong discomfort, it can lead to more severe issues down the line.
In this post, we’ll look at the reasons why people are so allergic to doctors and learn ways to have a better mindset.
II. Why Filipinos Are Afraid of Doctors
1. Embarrassment Over Personal or Private Issues
This is one of the biggest reasons why people avoid people in white lab coats.
Many feel embarrassed about discussing their health issues, particularly those related to private areas of the body. Conditions like urinary tract infections (UTIs), sexual concerns, or digestive issues often feel too personal to discuss.
Why would you let a stranger inspect your body, much less tell you what you can or cannot do? So, rather than seeking professional help, they endure (“tiis”) the symptoms in the hopes of them going away on their own.
There’s also that feeling of being judged—especially on conditions related to lifestyle choices, like being overweight, smoking, or drinking.
So, instead of presenting themselves to the doctor, people won’t be caught dead waiting inside any hospital or clinic.
2. Fear of Bad News
Another big reason people avoid doctor visits is the fear of receiving bad news. They don’t want to be diagnosed with a serious illness.
The thought of something negative about their health can make people anxious or fearful, leading them to postpone visits.
People don’t want to hear that they can’t eat this or that food anymore or that they should start doing cardio. In addition, people also fear getting medical procedures and doing tests. Having one’s blood drawn can prove too much for many.
3. Cost Concerns
Medical expenses are no joke in the Philippines. They literally cost an arm and a leg. So, instead of getting the procedure or buying the medicine, people wait for better finances—which rarely comes, if at all.
Aging parents, for example, hide their symptoms from their adult children, fearing that their condition can bankrupt the family.
4. Inconvenience and Access
A visit to your doctor, even if you can afford it, means reserving the better part of your day to go to the hospital or clinic, braving the Philippine traffic. In the provinces, access to healthcare facilities, especially in rural areas, can be limited, making it difficult for people to get the care they need.
5. Lack of Trust
Finally, many Filipinos put their trust in alternative medicine. Everyone’s lola has her own herbal concoction that can cure every disease known to mankind. If not, there’s Vicks, which Filipino mothers around the world swear by.
Who needs doctors when there’s Vicks?
III. The Most Common Embarrassing Conditions
Below are some of the health concerns that people often avoid discussing, yet they are nothing to be ashamed of. A visit to the doctor can help address them before they become more serious.
1. Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
UTIs are a common health issue, particularly among women. Symptoms like frequent urination, burning sensations, or pelvic discomfort can be embarrassing to discuss because they involve places in the body where the sun doesn’t shine. However, UTIs are very treatable, and ignoring them can lead to more severe complications, such as kidney infections.
2. Digestive Issues
Whether it’s bloating, constipation, diarrhea, or acid reflux, these issues affect a large portion of the population. Many individuals feel awkward discussing bowel movements or stomach discomfort, but doctors deal with them daily.
3. Sexual Health Problems
Many people avoid seeking help due to embarrassment of having a sexually transmitted infection (STI), erectile dysfunction, or recurring vaginal infections. However, STIs are common, and doctors have the knowledge and expertise to treat these issues discreetly and effectively.
4. Mental Health Issues
Discussing feelings of sadness, anxiety, or stress can feel uncomfortable. Mental health issues have become more common, and the stigma around them is slowly melting away. Doctors and mental health professionals are trained to help manage these conditions, offering support, therapy, and medication when necessary.
5. Weight and Obesity Concerns
Since people don’t want to be judged, obesity and being overweight can be hard to talk about. But these conversations are needed. Addressing weight-related issues early on can reduce the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
6. Skin Conditions
Skin conditions such as acne, eczema, or psoriasis are not only physically uncomfortable but can also affect one’s self-esteem. These conditions are common, especially among teenagers and young adults, and can persist into adulthood. Dermatologists and general practitioners can offer solutions to manage or treat these conditions effectively.
7. Hair Loss
Alopecia, hair thinning or hair loss, especially among men, can feel like a hard pill to swallow. However, it’s a condition many people face due to genetics, aging, or stress. A doctor can help identify the cause of hair loss and recommend treatments to prevent further thinning or regrowth solutions.
8. Reproductive Health Issues
Irregular periods, menopause symptoms, or erectile dysfunction are highly personal and can be very uncomfortable to discuss.
However, it's vital that these issues be aired out to medical professionals so they can provide treatments, manage symptoms, or improve quality of life.
9. Bad Breath
Halitosis can be caused by a number of factors, including poor dental hygiene, dry mouth, or underlying medical conditions like diabetes or gastrointestinal issues. Doctors or dentists can help identify the root cause and recommend treatments to manage it.
10. Incontinence
Bladder incontinence, or difficulty controlling urination, is something many people experience, especially as they age. There are various therapies, medications, and lifestyle changes that can help improve bladder control.
IV. 5 Mindsets That Banish Embarrassment
1. “It’s more common than you think.”
What feels embarrassing to you is routine to your doctor. On a daily basis, they deal with bodily fluids, intimate areas, strange smells, and symptoms people don’t even want to describe out loud.
It is the job. And after a while, doctors become numb to it.
They’re trained for it. So they expect it. Your case isn’t going to shock them. And if they seem unfazed, it’s because they’ve seen it before, many times over.
Hindi mo sila kayang gulatin. They’ve seen it all.
2. “You’re definitely not the worst.”
Whether it's a strange rash, an unusual smell, or something happening “down there,” you’re not the worst your doctor has seen. Not even close.
That thing you're worried about? They've probably seen it this week — maybe even that same morning. It’s routine for them.
Doctors don’t rank patients from “normal” to “nakakahiya.” They don’t go home thinking about your condition. They move on to the next case because that’s their job. Ikaw lang ang naiilang — hindi sila.
So if you’ve been hesitating to book that appointment because you think your case is “too weird,” “too gross,” or “too awkward” — take this as your permission to go.
You are not their most embarrassing case.
You’re not their most complicated case.
You’re just another person who needs help. And they’re there to give it.
3. “Delaying makes it worse.”
Many conditions start small. A bit of itching. A dull ache. An unusual lump. And when ignored, they can become serious — even life-threatening.
The longer you put it off, the harder it might be to treat. What starts as something small and embarrassing can quietly grow into something serious. What could’ve been fixed with a week of medication might turn into months of treatment or surgery.
Don’t let fear of a moment’s discomfort steal your peace of mind in the long run.
4. “Not knowing is worse.”
You might think avoiding the doctor keeps things simple.
But here’s the truth: not knowing doesn’t make the problem go away.
The pain you keep brushing off as "gas lang ’yan” might be something your body has been trying to tell you for months.
Like we said, early detection can mean the difference between a simple treatment plan and a life-altering diagnosis.
Between a short visit to the lab and a long stay at the hospital.
Between peace of mind and constant wondering.
5. “They’re not there to judge.”
Don’t know how to describe your symptoms? Afraid to be asked questions you don’t know the answers to?
That’s okay.
You don’t need to be medically fluent. You just need to be honest and open. They’ll take care of the rest. Your doctor entered the medical profession, trained hard for years, and went through countless sleepless nights…to help.
Trust them to do their jobs.
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