Have you ever avoided going to the doctor because you felt embarrassed? If so, you’re in good company.

At ConfidenceClub, we’re here to make life easier for people dealing with incontinence by offering discreet, reliable products that help people feel more comfortable and confident.

Recently, we carried out a survey for ConfidenceClub UK to better understand how people feel about health issues often seen as “embarrassing.”

The findings highlight just how much these conditions can affect daily life and how silence and stigma can make things harder than they need to be. With this survey, we hope to start more open conversations, making it easier for people to feel understood, manage these challenges with less worry, and most importantly get the help they need as soon as possible, so they have the best chance of addressing the issue.

Our Survey

To get a better understanding of how people across the UK feel about embarrassment and health, we surveyed 1,005 people and asked them ten key questions.

We wanted to uncover not only people’s attitudes towards these personal health issues but also how those feelings impact their lives. The responses gave us a glimpse into a wide range of experiences, showing just how much stigma can affect how we manage our health.

We asked these questions to people of various ages and genders, which revealed some interesting differences. While some groups felt more comfortable discussing their concerns, others tended to keep these matters private.

By sharing these findings, we’re hoping to start an open conversation that encourages more people to seek the help they need rather than staying silent.

Here’s a look at the questions we asked - and what people had to say...

1. Have you ever avoided seeking medical advice for a health condition due to embarrassment?

Yes	501	49.9%
No	504	50.1%
Total	1,005

 

Nearly half (49.9%) of respondents admitted they’d avoided seeking medical advice due to embarrassment, with a slim majority (50.1%) saying they hadn’t. This close split highlights just how much embarrassment still stands in the way of addressing health issues.

Gender Insights

A slight difference emerged between genders: 51.8% of men and 48% of women reported avoiding medical advice out of embarrassment. This suggests that men may feel a touch more stigma when it comes to discussing health concerns.

Age Group Trends

Age played a big role in people’s comfort levels. Younger respondents were the most likely to avoid seeking help, with 67.6% of 18-24-year-olds and 66.4% of 25-34-year-olds saying they’d held back due to embarrassment.

By contrast, only 32.9% of respondents aged 65 and over reported the same. It seems that stigma may ease with age, as older respondents appear less likely to let embarrassment get in the way of seeking care.

2. How long did you wait before seeking help?

Days	59	11.8%
Weeks	193	38.5%
Months	159	31.7%
Years	64	12.8%
Not applicable	26	5.2%
Total	501

 

For those who had avoided seeking medical advice initially, we asked about how long it took them to eventually seek help. Most reported significant delays: 38.5% waited weeks, 31.7% waited months, and a notable 12.8% admitted to delaying care for years. Only 11.8% sought help within days.

Gender Insights

Men were more likely than women to seek help sooner, with 15.1% waiting only days compared to 8.2% of women. On the other hand, a higher percentage of women delayed seeking help for years (15.6%) compared to men (10.1%).

This difference could suggest that women might face additional societal pressures or concerns around discussing certain health issues, which could contribute to longer delays.

Age Group Trends

Younger respondents aged 18-24 showed the longest delays, with 39.1% waiting months before seeking help. In contrast, respondents aged 55-64 were the most likely to act quickly, with 16.7% seeking help within days.

The highest percentage of those who delayed care for years was found among those 65 and older (20.8%), suggesting that older individuals may feel more comfortable delaying non-urgent issues, potentially due to habit or prioritising what they consider more pressing health concerns.

3. Have you ever experienced any complications or worsening of symptoms due to delaying medical consultation for an embarrassing condition?

Yes	298	29.7%
No	707	70.3%
Total	1,005

 

Nearly a third (29.7%) of respondents experienced complications or worsening symptoms due to delaying medical consultations, while the majority (70.3%) did not. This finding underscores that delaying care can have real consequences for a significant number of people, highlighting the importance of seeking timely medical advice.

Gender Insights

Men reported complications from delayed consultations slightly more often than women, with 31.5% of men versus 27.9% of women experiencing worsening symptoms.

This difference may suggest that men, who may tend to delay seeking medical help longer, could face greater risks of complications. Yet, the high rates of complications among both men and women point to the broad impact of delaying care, making it clear that reducing barriers to seeking help is crucial for everyone.

Age Group Trends

Younger respondents, especially those aged 18-24 and 25-34, were the most likely to experience complications from delays, with half of the youngest group (50%) reporting worsened symptoms.

This risk steadily decreased with age, with only 15.1% of those aged 65 and older reporting complications. This trend suggests that younger people may be at higher risk of negative outcomes from delays, possibly due to less proactive management of symptoms or the potential for more acute conditions. These findings reinforce the need to encourage younger individuals to seek prompt medical help to minimise health risks.

4. How comfortable do you feel discussing intimate health issues with your doctor?

Very comfortable	144	14.3%
Comfortable	428	42.6%
Uncomfortable	316	31.4%
Very uncomfortable	83	8.3%
I do not discuss them	34	3.4%
Total	1,005

 

The survey results revealed that while a majority of respondents (42.6%) felt comfortable discussing intimate health issues with their doctor, a substantial 31.4% felt uncomfortable, and 8.3% felt very uncomfortable. Only 14.3% were very comfortable, and 3.4% admitted they don’t discuss intimate health issues with their doctor at all.

This data shows that while many people feel at ease, a significant number still struggle with discomfort, which could affect their willingness to seek help promptly.

Gender Insights

Men reported feeling more comfortable than women when it comes to discussing intimate health issues with their doctor, with 19.1% of men feeling very comfortable compared to just 9.5% of women.

Women were also more likely to feel uncomfortable, with 34.8% reporting discomfort versus 28.1% of men. This suggests that women may face extra barriers in openly discussing intimate health concerns, possibly due to cultural or societal pressures.

Age Group Trends

Younger respondents, especially those aged 18-24, showed the lowest comfort levels, with only 5.9% feeling very comfortable, while over 41% reported feeling uncomfortable. Comfort levels improved with age, among respondents aged 65 and over, 46.1% felt comfortable and only 4.1% felt very uncomfortable.

This trend suggests that life experience and repeated interactions with healthcare professionals may help reduce discomfort over time, making it easier to have open discussions about health.

5. How often do you discuss personal health concerns with your partner?

Immediately	83	8.3%
Frequently	289	28.8%
Occasionally	279	27.8%
Rarely	154	15.3%
Never	22	2.2%
Not applicable to me	178	17.7%
Total	1,005

 

The survey data showed varied levels of openness when it comes to discussing personal health concerns with partners.

While 8.3% of respondents said they bring up health concerns with their partner immediately, 28.8% do so frequently, and 27.8% occasionally. A smaller portion, 15.3%, rarely discussed such issues, and 2.2% never discussed them at all.

Gender Insights

Men and women showed similar patterns overall, though there were some slight differences. Women were a bit more likely to discuss health concerns immediately (7.5% of women vs. 9% of men), while more men tended to discuss health occasionally (30.9% vs. 24.7% of women).

This suggests that women might feel slightly more comfortable addressing health concerns in the moment, while men lean more towards occasional discussions. These insights point to subtle differences in openness, perhaps influenced by social norms around vulnerability and communication.

Age Group Trends

Age also played a role in comfort levels. Respondents aged 25-34 were the most likely to discuss health concerns frequently (44.8%), while those over 65 were less inclined to discuss health immediately (only 6.4%) but maintained steady levels of frequent discussion (22.4%).

Younger respondents (18-24) were less likely to bring up health concerns right away (5.9%) but leaned towards occasional discussions (38.2%), suggesting that younger people might find it a bit harder to bring up health concerns straight away.

These age-related insights suggest that comfort in discussing health with a partner tends to grow with age, possibly due to relationship maturity or a shifting perspective on the importance of open communication.

6. How often do you discuss personal health concerns with your family?

Immediately	45	4.5%
Frequently	173	17.2%
Occasionally	289	28.8%
Rarely	303	30.1%
Never	159	15.8%
Not applicable to me	36	3.6%
Total	1,005

 

The data shows that respondents are generally less likely to discuss personal health concerns with family members than with partners. Only 4.5% said they discuss health concerns with family immediately, and 17.2% do so frequently. The largest group reported rarely discussing such issues (30.1%), and 15.8% said they never talk about health concerns with family.

These results suggest that many people feel a sense of privacy or hesitation around sharing personal health issues with family members.

Gender Insights

There were slight differences between men and women. Men (5.6%) were a bit more likely to discuss health issues with family immediately than women (3.4%). On the other hand, women were more likely to discuss health concerns frequently (19.6%) compared to men (14.9%). 

However, both genders showed similar levels of reluctance, with nearly equal percentages saying they rarely or never discuss health concerns with family. 

These findings suggest that gender has a limited impact on family discussions around health, as both men and women show similar patterns of privacy or discomfort in family settings.

Age Group Trends

Age played a significant role in how comfortable respondents felt discussing health with family. Younger respondents (18-24) were more likely to discuss health issues occasionally (41.2%), while those aged 25-34 showed a greater tendency to discuss health both immediately (6.7%) and frequently (38.8%). Older respondents, particularly those aged 65+, had a stronger tendency to rarely discuss personal health concerns with family (35.2%) or to avoid these discussions altogether (18.3%).

These age-related patterns suggest that comfort with family health discussions may decrease with age, potentially due to a stronger sense of independence or preference for privacy.

7. How often do you discuss personal health concerns with your friends?

Immediately	35	3.5%
Frequently	132	13.1%
Occasionally	308	30.6%
Rarely	288	28.7%
Never	206	20.5%
Not applicable to me	36	3.6%
Total	1,005

 

 

The data shows that respondents are generally less inclined to discuss personal health concerns with friends than with partners or family. Only 3.5% said they discuss health concerns with friends immediately, and 13.1% do so frequently. The largest group, at 30.6%, discuss health occasionally, while 28.7% rarely bring up health issues, and 20.5% never do.

These findings suggest a high level of privacy or discomfort in discussing health with friends, perhaps because people prefer to keep personal health matters within family or partner relationships.

Gender Insights

Some gender differences appeared here, with men being slightly more open to discussing health concerns immediately (5.0%) compared to women (2.0%). However, women were more likely to discuss health frequently (16.6%) than men (9.6%). Men showed higher rates of never discussing health concerns with friends (24.7%) compared to women (16.4%), suggesting that men may feel more stigma or discomfort around sharing personal health issues in social circles.

These findings highlight that social norms and perceptions of vulnerability can affect people’s comfort with discussing health, especially among men.

Age Group Trends

Younger respondents (18-24) were the most likely to discuss health occasionally (47.1%) or frequently (17.6%), indicating a more open attitude toward sharing health matters. The 25-34 age group showed the highest frequency of discussing health concerns frequently (33.6%), but openness generally declined with age. For respondents aged 55-64, only 7.3% discussed health frequently, with the majority (32.3%) rarely discussing it and 29.7% never doing so.

This trend suggests that younger generations may feel more comfortable addressing health issues within their social circles, while older generations tend to keep such matters private.

8. Do you think men and women are equally likely to seek medical advice for intimate health issues?

No, men are more likely	47	4.7%
No, women are more likely	693	69.0%
Yes, they are both equally likely	265	26.4%
Total	1,005

 

The majority of respondents (69.0%) believe that women are more likely to seek medical advice for intimate health issues, while only 4.7% felt that men are more likely to do so. A smaller portion, 26.4%, believe both genders are equally likely to seek help.

This consensus suggests a widespread perception that women are generally more proactive about seeking medical advice for personal health matters, potentially due to societal norms or greater comfort levels in discussing intimate health.

Gender Insights

Both men and women largely agreed that women are more likely to seek medical advice for intimate issues, with 72.5% of women and 65.3% of men expressing this view. Interestingly, men were more likely than women to think that both genders are equally likely to seek help (30.3% of men vs. 22.5% of women).

This difference could reflect varying personal experiences or expectations around healthcare behaviour, with women perceiving a stronger divide in how genders approach intimate health issues.

Age Group Trends

Younger respondents (18-24) were more inclined to believe that men and women are equally likely to seek medical advice, with 29.4% sharing this view. In contrast, older respondents were more likely to think women are more proactive; for instance, 79.7% of those aged 55-64 felt women were more likely to seek help, a figure that rose to 80.8% among those 65 and older.

These age-related differences suggest that older generations may hold stronger views on traditional gender roles in healthcare-seeking behaviour, while younger respondents seem to adopt a more egalitarian perspective.

9. How likely would you be to use online resources for health advice on embarrassing conditions before consulting a doctor?

Very likely	267	26.6%
Likely	511	50.8%
Unlikely	128	12.7%
Very unlikely	52	5.2%
Never	47	4.7%
Total	1,005

 

The majority of respondents indicated they would turn to online resources before consulting a doctor for embarrassing health concerns, with 26.6% saying they are "very likely" and 50.8% "likely" to do so. A smaller group was more hesitant, with 12.7% "unlikely" and 5.2% "very unlikely" to seek online advice, while 4.7% said they would "never" consider it.

These results suggest that many people feel comfortable exploring online health advice for private issues, likely due to the anonymity and convenience it offers.

Gender Insights

Men and women showed similar tendencies in turning to online resources, with 27.1% of women and 26.1% of men feeling "very likely" to seek online advice. Women were slightly more inclined to rely on these resources overall, with 53.6% responding "likely" compared to 48.0% of men. Men were a bit more hesitant, with 15.1% "unlikely" to use online resources compared to 10.5% of women.

This suggests that women may feel more comfortable using online resources for private health concerns, possibly due to greater familiarity with researching health issues online.

Age Group Trends

Younger respondents (18-24) were less inclined to be "very likely" to seek online advice (17.6%) than those in the 35-44 age group, where 31.2% felt "very likely" to use online resources. Reliance on online resources peaked among the 45-54 age group, with 31.8% saying they were "very likely" to use these before consulting a doctor. Older respondents (65+) were more hesitant, with only 19.2% "very likely" to use online resources, and a larger portion (10.0%) indicating they would "never" do so.

These findings suggest that middle-aged groups, in particular, find online health resources helpful, whereas older individuals are more cautious about using the internet for health advice, potentially due to familiarity or trust factors.

10. If you have sought help for an embarrassing health condition, what was the primary reason that finally led you to consult a medical professional?

Symptoms worsening	286	28.5%
Encouragement from others	139	13.8%
Concern about long-term health effects	301	30.0%
Access to anonymous or online medical advice	36	3.6%
Other (please specify)	11	1.1%
Not applicable to me	232	23.1%
Total	1,005

 

The most common reason respondents sought medical help was concern about long-term health effects (30.0%), followed closely by worsening symptoms (28.5%). Encouragement from others was a motivator for 13.8%, while only 3.6% were driven by access to anonymous or online advice.

This shows that people are most likely to consult a professional when they see serious or lasting implications for their health, with social encouragement playing a secondary role.

Gender Insights

Both men and women listed similar primary reasons for seeking help, with some slight differences. Men were slightly more driven by long-term health concerns (31.1% vs. 28.9% for women), while women were marginally more likely to seek help due to worsening symptoms (29.1% vs. 27.9% of men).

Encouragement from others was also more influential for women (14.6%) than men (13.1%), suggesting that while serious health concerns are universally motivating, women might be more responsive to social encouragement, while men might focus more on long-term health impacts.

Age Group Trends

Age influences people’s reasons for seeking help. Younger respondents (18-24) were highly motivated by concerns about long-term health (50.0%), while worsening symptoms were the main motivator for the 35-44 (31.2%) and 45-54 (34.4%) age groups. Social encouragement had the most impact on the 25-34 age group (34.3%), with older respondents less likely to rely on others' input.

These trends suggest that younger individuals may be more proactive and health-conscious, while middle-aged individuals might delay until symptoms worsen, and older individuals may feel more self-reliant in making health decisions.

Our Summary

Here’s what we learned from the survey:

1. Embarrassment is a Major Barrier - Nearly half of respondents have avoided seeking medical advice because of embarrassment. Stigma plays a huge role in health decisions, especially for younger people who feel this discomfort most strongly.
   
   
2. Delayed Care Can Lead to Complications - Almost a third of respondents faced worsening symptoms or complications due to putting off medical consultations. This shows the real risks of avoiding timely care.
   
   
3. Comfort Discussing Health Increases with Age - People generally feel more comfortable talking to doctors about intimate health issues as they get older. While only 5.9% of those aged 18-24 felt “very comfortable,” this rises to 46.1% among those 65+, suggesting that familiarity and experience help reduce embarrassment.
   
   
4. Single People Are at Greater Risk of Staying Silent - Those without a partner may be at higher risk of not addressing health concerns, as conversations about health are far more common with partners than with family or friends.
   
   
5. Online Resources Are a Popular First Step - Around 3 in 4 of respondents said they would turn to online resources for advice before seeing a doctor, valuing the convenience and anonymity online information provides for private health concerns.