A Dumb Question

[taffimai]

Whenever I go to the doctor, they ask me if there's any chance I could be pregnant. Now, as I do not have sex with men, I find it pretty easy to answer this question.

But I've never understood how straight, sexually active women in the second half of their cycle are supposed to answer that question. Because even if they're using birth control, it's only 99% effective, so there's always a chance they could be pregnant, but they haven't missed a period yet so they wouldn't really know. Is this just code for, "have you missed a period?"

Just curious.

Comments

[fandom-me.livejournal.com]

Not really. Generally they really want to hear if you've had (PIV) sex since your last period, and if so they'll take precautions.

/random.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

I think it's code for "Is there any chance I'll get sued if I prescribe you this medication which is Extremely Likely To Cause Birth Defects?"

[kita0610.livejournal.com]

There are certain procedures and meds that are more harmful to fetuses than women, so they have to ask. Generally they follow that question up with "when was the date of your last period?" so they can be sure.

I'm married, and Maze has had a vasectomy, so I usually reply with "hubby is neutered", which also makes them crack up.

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

I get all my Lady Doctoring at the Planned Parenthood clinic, since they're cheaper and I love the doctor. Maybe they're more PC or something - the first question they always ask me is "When was your last sexual contact?" Oh, wait, I just remembered that they take a urine sample from everybody before they even let you back to the exam room, so maybe they don't even have to ask the pregnancy question. They just *know*. Huh.

But yeah, my assumption would be that they have to cover their asses for if they prescribe any medication that could be harmful to a hypothetical or real fetus. When I take groups of students to get MMR vaccinations every semester, we have to separate out the girls and tell them to inform the nurse if there's even the remotest chance they could now be or soon become pregnant, because the vaccination could hurt the baby.

[dameruth.livejournal.com]

The variation on that that really used to bug me, back in college, is the way the Student Health Center seemed to assume every young woman who came to see them WAS pregnant, no matter what. They would even diagnose you as such -- "you're probably pregnant, there's a lot of that going around," almost -- even if you went in with very non-pregnant symptoms. It got so bad, you'd hear people joking about it (e.g., "Damn, I think I'm getting a sore throat." "Uh-oh! You must be pregnant!")

Student Health would persist in this even if you informed them that it was unlikely-to-impossible. I haven't led the wildest life, and for many years was able to answer the "do you think you might be pregnant" question with, "Only if it's the Second Coming of the Messiah," which usually just confused the medical staff. Later, I would frequently answer with, "The last time I had sex we used protection, it was six months ago, and I've had my period right on time that whole while." To which they would usually respond, "Are you SURE about that?"

Gah. No, lady. Every female college student on campus regularly drinks herself into a stupor at frat house parties and wakes up the next morning wondering where their underwear went. *Grumph!*

'Course, then there was the time my (married) friend, who was a student, and had been *trying* to get pregnant went in for confirmation of her home test. Apparently, when the results came back, the staff freaked,a nd started trying to "counsel" her about her "options." My irritated friend told them about six times that this was a *wanted* child, and was very irritated that they wouldn't listen to her.

There was a reason we all called the place "Stupid Health."

[nuptse.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, that's always a fun one to answer, innit?

I've had my tubes plugged and haven't had sex in three years and I still get asked it at the doctor's. I think if you are in possession of a vagina, they're always going to ask.

[crayonbreakygal.livejournal.com]

One time I went in for a really sore throat and they asked me that question and I said maybe because we'd been trying all of three weeks. The doc didn't believe me and then misread the test. I get home with prescription for antibiotics in my hands and a nurse calls me frantically to tell me the test was really positive. I was three weeks along. Stoopid doctor. I think the nurse was really annoyed with him.

[stakebait.livejournal.com]

"Yes, but it is unlikely; I'm on the pill plus condoms" is how I usually answer that question if I've had potentially procreative sex since my last period.

(At the emergency room they give you a pregnancy test no matter how you answer.)