weird questions
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wrote last edited by [email protected]
If she's going to need a CT scan then it's a sensible question.
Radiation exposure has risks to foetuses so if there is any chance of pregnancy then the women needs to know so she can make an informed choice about proceeding with a CT scan. In a trauma situation such as being singed following battling a dragon, the CT scan would probably still need to happen regardless.
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This is a genuine question in regards to medical exams for women. Honestly, how often does the timing of your cycle have a direct correlation to the symptoms or conditions you are suffering when you go to the doctor?
I'm just curious, based on knowing how women's symptoms aren't always taken as seriously as a man's during diagnosis. I'm sure that it has some relation sometimes, but I would love to hear the perspective and experiences that women have had with this.
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Isn't this so that they can determine whether the patient could be pregnant before proceeding with any medical intervention that could imperial the life of either mother or fetus?
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Isn't this so that they can determine whether the patient could be pregnant before proceeding with any medical intervention that could imperial the life of either mother or fetus?
wrote last edited by [email protected]imperial
I can’t un-autocorrect that in my head. What word were you trying to type?Scratch that. Apparently, imperil is a word. TIL.
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I would say that it could absolutely be a very valid question to asses the patient's medical condition.
The question itself seems fair, asking it as the first question in this scenario seems less so.
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I understand why this question hits, but here’s some context regarding charting and medical chart audits.
The employers get in trouble if the check in forms are not filled out completely. This includes a complete set of vital signs, no single points of missing data for any reason, including an actual, not stated, weight. A month later, the auditors will have finished looking for blank spots in the chart and both doctor and nurse will receive email asking that this blank spot be filled.
The other piece is pregnancy or lack thereof determines meds. If a doctor prescribes a med that isn’t pregnancy safe they could be liable in a court of law. It’s also why the ubiquitous 3 minute pregnancy test is thrown in if they’re collecting urine. To make sure no one is harming a fetus with the wrong medication. Again, so the doctor doesn’t get sued.
The politics of the day make this question so loaded, but the reality is the question is likely not even being asked for you.
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This is a genuine question in regards to medical exams for women. Honestly, how often does the timing of your cycle have a direct correlation to the symptoms or conditions you are suffering when you go to the doctor?
I'm just curious, based on knowing how women's symptoms aren't always taken as seriously as a man's during diagnosis. I'm sure that it has some relation sometimes, but I would love to hear the perspective and experiences that women have had with this.
I would say that for younger women who are still getting accustomed to their cycle and how it affects their bodies, this can be reasonable. But for seasoned women who should know how their cycle affects their bodies, it's a rather annoying question to have to answer for literally any doctors visit. If I'm about to have a procedure, then sure they have to make certain. If they have reason to believe there is a correlation with an issue I'm having and reproductive issues, then fine also. But if I'm just coming in for a yearly exam or because I've had a sinus infection that won't go away, etc, this question is pointless and quite frankly none of their business. Especially in today's political climate in the US, I'd rather they not actively track that unless I have a specific reason to do so medically.
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If she's going to need a CT scan then it's a sensible question.
Radiation exposure has risks to foetuses so if there is any chance of pregnancy then the women needs to know so she can make an informed choice about proceeding with a CT scan. In a trauma situation such as being singed following battling a dragon, the CT scan would probably still need to happen regardless.
foetuses
I’ll never not pronounce this foe-tusses
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I would say that for younger women who are still getting accustomed to their cycle and how it affects their bodies, this can be reasonable. But for seasoned women who should know how their cycle affects their bodies, it's a rather annoying question to have to answer for literally any doctors visit. If I'm about to have a procedure, then sure they have to make certain. If they have reason to believe there is a correlation with an issue I'm having and reproductive issues, then fine also. But if I'm just coming in for a yearly exam or because I've had a sinus infection that won't go away, etc, this question is pointless and quite frankly none of their business. Especially in today's political climate in the US, I'd rather they not actively track that unless I have a specific reason to do so medically.
This is a good explanation, covering a lot of information in a clear and concise manner. Thank you for sharing and helping me gain a slightly larger perspective.
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imperial
I can’t un-autocorrect that in my head. What word were you trying to type?Scratch that. Apparently, imperil is a word. TIL.
Lol, didn't catch that. You got it!
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If she's going to need a CT scan then it's a sensible question.
Radiation exposure has risks to foetuses so if there is any chance of pregnancy then the women needs to know so she can make an informed choice about proceeding with a CT scan. In a trauma situation such as being singed following battling a dragon, the CT scan would probably still need to happen regardless.
That's not what happens though.
What happens is they ask you when your last period was. You tell them. They insist on a pregnancy test anyway. You say you don't care if you're pregnant, will immediately abort any fetus, and you understand the risks. They refuse to do anything at all until you take the pregnancy test anyway. And now you're in danger if you're in a red state and the test does come back up positive, because they'll be stalking your movements now.
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If she's going to need a CT scan then it's a sensible question.
Radiation exposure has risks to foetuses so if there is any chance of pregnancy then the women needs to know so she can make an informed choice about proceeding with a CT scan. In a trauma situation such as being singed following battling a dragon, the CT scan would probably still need to happen regardless.
She needs to make an informed choice. SHE. So tell her the scan (and perhaps some other aspects of treatment, like medication/anesthesia) has risks to a fetus and ask if she could be pregnant, even offer a test if there's a possibility.
And make sure that question is asked and answered in private!
But her cycle timing is not necessarily relevant. It's highly unlikely to get pregnant during your period, but possible since your ovaries alternate and can be out of sync. Meanwhile, someone who hasn't had sperm anywhere near her in six months isn't gonna be pregnant even if it's been three since her LMP.
What would you do if she were unconscious, refuse to treat in case it might harm a hypothetical fetus? You might say that's ridiculous but it's happening in 6-week ban states now. And when women are pregnant and miscarrying they've died of sepsis because there was still a fetal heartbeat.
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When my ex was pregnant with our kid, they asked this at EVERY. SINGLE. APPOINTMENT.
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That's not what happens though.
What happens is they ask you when your last period was. You tell them. They insist on a pregnancy test anyway. You say you don't care if you're pregnant, will immediately abort any fetus, and you understand the risks. They refuse to do anything at all until you take the pregnancy test anyway. And now you're in danger if you're in a red state and the test does come back up positive, because they'll be stalking your movements now.
Female: "not necessary - me and my partner have been trying for years now but never could conceive; it's okay though, she tries her best regardless"
Nurse: ".....oh"
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If she's going to need a CT scan then it's a sensible question.
Radiation exposure has risks to foetuses so if there is any chance of pregnancy then the women needs to know so she can make an informed choice about proceeding with a CT scan. In a trauma situation such as being singed following battling a dragon, the CT scan would probably still need to happen regardless.
I don't live in the states. I haven't been asked this question preceding scans, prescriptions or other interventions since I was a teenager. In fact, I was at the hospital today and wasn't even asked if I could be pregnant.
This indirect beating around the bush takes away women's choice and autonomy, it almost feels like a trick. I'm not menopausal and I don't often get my period, so it wouldn't be a good indicator for many women, anyway, and delays care.
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When my ex was pregnant with our kid, they asked this at EVERY. SINGLE. APPOINTMENT.
It's a way to approximate fetal age without an ultrasound and make sure development is progressing as expected. So while pregnant its actually a relevant question. Asking every time is one way to ensure that records/expectations are correct, same reason they ask your birthday like 3 times between checkin, the nurse, and the doc.
For women with less standard cycles I'm sure it is more annoying.
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I would say that it could absolutely be a very valid question to asses the patient's medical condition.
The question itself seems fair, asking it as the first question in this scenario seems less so.
What does the menstrual cycle have to do with their medical condition in any situation not related to reproduction?
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She needs to make an informed choice. SHE. So tell her the scan (and perhaps some other aspects of treatment, like medication/anesthesia) has risks to a fetus and ask if she could be pregnant, even offer a test if there's a possibility.
And make sure that question is asked and answered in private!
But her cycle timing is not necessarily relevant. It's highly unlikely to get pregnant during your period, but possible since your ovaries alternate and can be out of sync. Meanwhile, someone who hasn't had sperm anywhere near her in six months isn't gonna be pregnant even if it's been three since her LMP.
What would you do if she were unconscious, refuse to treat in case it might harm a hypothetical fetus? You might say that's ridiculous but it's happening in 6-week ban states now. And when women are pregnant and miscarrying they've died of sepsis because there was still a fetal heartbeat.
Everything you said is accurate, with one caveat: patients are often ignorant about the mechanics of pregnancy. Reproductive health education is shockingly insufficient among the population. "Could you be pregnant?" is not a useful question unless you're sure that the patient understands how pregnancy works. Asking for the date of their last cycle is at the very least a data point that has some diagnostic value. "No, I can't be pregnant because my boyfriend always pulls out" is a statement that contains a lot of information, but none of it has diagnostic value. You would still need to ask all the questions related to possible pregnancy.
That said, you're right that the timing isn't necessarily informative, either. And double down on asking these, or any, questions in private.
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That's not what happens though.
What happens is they ask you when your last period was. You tell them. They insist on a pregnancy test anyway. You say you don't care if you're pregnant, will immediately abort any fetus, and you understand the risks. They refuse to do anything at all until you take the pregnancy test anyway. And now you're in danger if you're in a red state and the test does come back up positive, because they'll be stalking your movements now.
Thank health insurance lawyers for that. Unintentionally terminating a pregnancy or causing a birth defect is prohibitively expensive for healthcare providers. If we could all agree not to sue for malpractice, doctors would be more free to use their own judgement. Of course, the more doctors you know, the less comforting that thought might be.
