As a woman who absolutely hates the “when was the date of your last period?” question, if the only reason they want to know the answer to that question is to determine whether or not we are pregnant, why don’t they just have us pee in a cup?
Asking me when my last period was in order for them to determine whether or not I may be pregnant, is kind of like [insert some scenario where the obvious solution to a question is simple but you go about it in a backwards upside down complicated way].
if the only reason they want to know the answer to that question is to determine whether or not we are pregnant, why don’t they just have us pee in a cup?
No, a lot of women have irregular periods, some women don’t have periods at all.
This question has nothing to do with wanting to know if you’re pregnant, it has everything to do with keeping track of women’s menstrual cycles, which is extremely creepy.
Okay, and what does the medical personnel do with that information? Do they track it in a secret global period database? Do they get together once a month to laugh about irregular periods?
No secret database—just your medical record. But doctors don’t always control why they ask or where that info ends up. For example, in some U.S. states, laws force them to report certain reproductive health details (like abortion complications) to government databases—even if the patient’s issue was unrelated. Add in insurance requirements, EHR hacks, and legal subpoenas, and suddenly your private health data isn’t so private.
That’s not even mentioning how governments in China or South Korea use that info.
So the medical personnel asks about the period, writes it down, and then completely ignores the answer for the rest of the examination? They just do X-Rays even if a patient says “I haven’t had my period in 3 months”?
Because I’m one of those women who doesn’t effing know or care when my last menstrual period was. I don’t keep track of those things because it doesn’t effing matter to me. I’m so sick of going to the doctor for something completely unrelated and they treat me like a number and ask me these stupid unrelated questions. And yes they ask this question every single time you go to the doctor regardless of why you’re there. If they want to know whether or not I’m pregnant why don’t they just ask me if I’m pregnant or tell me to pee in a cup. They often make me pee in a cup anyway, I don’t effing care. Stop asking me when my last period was.
It pretty blantantly shows that there is a greater concern for the potential existence of something which may potentially become a person, than there is for the actual person having an actual medical emergency.
How so? I’m really trying to empathize, but I can’t understand how the potential harm for “the actual person having an actual medical emergency” is bigger if they’re asked this question.
I can see very tiny negatives (annoying question etc.). But none of them compare to the potential positives for both the person with a medical emergency, and any potential fetus involved. Say for example someone has gotten pregnant without knowing, but would like to keep the pregnancy - they might feel guilty for the rest of their lives if their medical visit causes harm to their pregnancy.
I’m going to need you to speak with my lawyer and sign a waiver if you refuse to test for a pregnancy. We cannot discuss any further until this matter is settled, or the situation becomes a life threatening emergency.
As a woman who absolutely hates the “when was the date of your last period?” question, if the only reason they want to know the answer to that question is to determine whether or not we are pregnant, why don’t they just have us pee in a cup?
Asking me when my last period was in order for them to determine whether or not I may be pregnant, is kind of like [insert some scenario where the obvious solution to a question is simple but you go about it in a backwards upside down complicated way].
Isn’t that a lot more work?
No, a lot of women have irregular periods, some women don’t have periods at all. This question has nothing to do with wanting to know if you’re pregnant, it has everything to do with keeping track of women’s menstrual cycles, which is extremely creepy.
Okay, and what does the medical personnel do with that information? Do they track it in a secret global period database? Do they get together once a month to laugh about irregular periods?
No secret database—just your medical record. But doctors don’t always control why they ask or where that info ends up. For example, in some U.S. states, laws force them to report certain reproductive health details (like abortion complications) to government databases—even if the patient’s issue was unrelated. Add in insurance requirements, EHR hacks, and legal subpoenas, and suddenly your private health data isn’t so private.
That’s not even mentioning how governments in China or South Korea use that info.
So the medical personnel asks about the period, writes it down, and then completely ignores the answer for the rest of the examination? They just do X-Rays even if a patient says “I haven’t had my period in 3 months”?
They test regardless. That’s literally why we say this question is ridiculous.
Because I’m one of those women who doesn’t effing know or care when my last menstrual period was. I don’t keep track of those things because it doesn’t effing matter to me. I’m so sick of going to the doctor for something completely unrelated and they treat me like a number and ask me these stupid unrelated questions. And yes they ask this question every single time you go to the doctor regardless of why you’re there. If they want to know whether or not I’m pregnant why don’t they just ask me if I’m pregnant or tell me to pee in a cup. They often make me pee in a cup anyway, I don’t effing care. Stop asking me when my last period was.
And more invasive. And expensive.
But hey not about womans things
It pretty blantantly shows that there is a greater concern for the potential existence of something which may potentially become a person, than there is for the actual person having an actual medical emergency.
How so? I’m really trying to empathize, but I can’t understand how the potential harm for “the actual person having an actual medical emergency” is bigger if they’re asked this question.
I can see very tiny negatives (annoying question etc.). But none of them compare to the potential positives for both the person with a medical emergency, and any potential fetus involved. Say for example someone has gotten pregnant without knowing, but would like to keep the pregnancy - they might feel guilty for the rest of their lives if their medical visit causes harm to their pregnancy.
I understand your position, but I’m going to need you to prove you aren’t pregnant or have a chance of being pregnant before we discuss this further.
Of course, everyone knows a doctor won’t even consider talking to you unless you carry a negative pregnancy test.
Wait, why do they even ask about the period? Are they stupid, why isn’t the negative pregnancy test enough?
I’m going to need you to speak with my lawyer and sign a waiver if you refuse to test for a pregnancy. We cannot discuss any further until this matter is settled, or the situation becomes a life threatening emergency.