Asked if you wanted oral or rectal

Some people mentioned that by a certain age they were given the choice between oral and rectal at the doctor’s office. This was certainly not the case at mine as rectal was done until 13 and after that it was automatically oral with no choice for rectal. To those who were asked and given the choice could you please tell me how this question was presented to you? Exact words would be best. I’m very curious to know how a nurse would present this question in reality. Thanks.

I was never given a choice by my doctor. Starting from when I first started to see him (age 11) it was always a rectal temperature. He always claimed that it was more accurate than an oral temperature. And to be honest, I'm not sure what I would've said if he had given me an optipon at 13.

I was never given a choice at the doctors. I actually have no conscious memory of having a rectal temp at the doctors. I do, however, remember getting a choice at home when I was a young child. When I was probably 4-5 and mom decided I needed my temperature taken, she'd ask me, “Which one??” Meaning oral or rectal. I foolishly said mouth all of the time. I remember one time when I was 7 or 8 saying that I wanted it taken in my butt, to which mom said I was too old and got the oral thermometer instead.

I was never given a choice. Had rectal all through high school. If given the choice I would have chosen oral.

I was never given the option. It was always rectal when I was very young, and eventually switched without any word!

I forget my age but I was home sick and my mother asked if I wanted my temperature taken in my mouth or backside. For some reason I said, backside. She said when you’re ready to change, let me know.

Another time as an adult, during a routine physical ( new patient) the nurse told me she needed to take my temperature and asked if I wanted it orally or rectally. I chose rectally. Noted too on my chart, and follow on visits I had my temperature taken rectally.

My doctor's nurse ask at age 13 how you wanted it taken if you said oral they had to actually leave the exam room to go get an oral thermometer. They only kept rectal thermometers in the exam rooms. I never minded rectal so just let the nurse use what was there.

As I got older at the pediatrician, the nurse would be talking with my mom and if the question arose, my mom would tell her rectal was her preference for me, as it was always done that way at home. Although I was there, I was kept out of the loop.

Was never asked, was always given a Rectal Temperature, by Mom , or the nurse.

I was never given an option. I remember it being rectal when I was very young, and eventually, it switched to oral.

I only got rectal at the doctor's office when I was very young, never after 7. We lived with my grandmother who was old school and she would use rectal but my mother used oral. The only time I was given an option was at the infirmary at comp. The nurse asked me how they took it at home.

My doctor's nurse ask at age 13 how you wanted it taken if you said oral they had to actually leave the exam room to go get an oral thermometer. They only kept rectal thermometers in the exam rooms. I never minded rectal so just let the nurse use what was there.

How would they pose the question? Would the nurse say “do you want me to use an oral or rectal thermometer”? Or would she say it differently. Just curious. Thanks.

Sure wish they did vaginal temperatures more often. Seems to me it'd be much more convenient than rectal.

The nurse at age 13, or older would say something like how would you like me to take it while looking at my mom. Then mom usually said, however, he wants it. So I usually said, rectal is fine.

Rectal was the only choice I had I had it when I was a child in my parents and I had it as a child at the doctors

I was never asked if I wanted to have my temperature taken orally or rectally, although I often wonder if they would have taken it rectally had I asked.

I used to get terrible migraines sometimes in my 20s and 30s. If you ever had one, you know that the gagging and the nausea are part of the deal, and the last thing you want is having a thermometer in your mouth. I remember as newlyweds when I was also sick and running a fever. Total misery. My loving husband, ever so compassionate, sat down on my bed with a thermometer and asked, “Doctor wants to know your temp. Top or bottom?” I was feeling so out of it that I turned on to my side and pulled down my nighty bottoms. After that became a familiar line in our marriage, “There’s Vaseline in the medicine drawer.” We laugh about that now!

Steve B,

On a few occasions I was offered the choice of having my temperature taken orally or rectally. I always opted for rectally.

There we’re times when I asked for rectal temperature.The majority of times I did have the temperatur takings done rectally. There were times when they were not.

Never asked, she always gave me a recta temperature.

I wish this was an option at my doctors office since I have facial tics and sometimes I struggle to keep a thermometer in my mouth, plus I don't mind rectal and it is the most accurate. But oral is fine

Never asked and always rectal until I was a teenager and then always oral.

Never. My mother enforced rectal, and the hospital as well ; unsurprising 40 years ago in France. The only matter to decide was if an adult would stick the thermometer into me, or have me insert it myself. I think the change was age 6. In hospital age 9-10 I was expected to know how to stick it in myself.

Where I grew up small town in the 70’s early 80’s not much to choose from as far as pediatrician went. The nurse called you and a parent back Mom was the one that took me to Doctor office. She would say let’s get ur temperature ok. Go ahead get ur pants off Hope up on table she would walk over get the thermometer. walk back over say lay on ur stomach then pull ur underwear down and that it in ur butt. Talk to mom about any issues u was having

It was always rectal temperatures for me. Mom was a firm believer in taking this way. She took mine and my sisters rectally using a glass thermometer with a pear-shaped bulb. As my sisters all grew older, mom taught each of them how to perform rectal temperatures on me, and each other. But as the youngest, and the only male, each sister always wanted to perfect their rectal temperature training time on me. Mom thought it would be a great learning experience. She said it would “helpful process" each sister could use when they had children. When my rectal temperature was taken, each sister would alternate being the primary rectal temperature taker, and the other sisters would be there watching the procedure. Each would watch and take notes. Sometimes mom was there. Each time I was always laying on my tummy. Wearing only my underwear, they were lowered to below my knees, or sometimes removed. This process varied with each sister. One sister was left-handed, so her rectal temperature taking process, differed slightly from the other sisters, as she was on the opposite side of the bed or padded-top table that dad had built. (Mom asked him to build it. It was the same height as an examination table at the clinic). After my rectal temperature procedure was done by one of my sisters, there was a discussion time. Each sister would voice their thoughts on what they had viewed. If it was something that couldn't be resolved, mom would be told about it, and make the final decision. Usually anything that was brought up was mutually agreed on and documented in the notebook that mom had created. Mom had developed a detailed notebook for all my rectal temperature checks. If something that was thought to be useful, mom always said to put it in the notebook for future references. She told each sister to document every rectal temperature session. Mom also told the nurses at the clinic, that she and my sisters all took my rectal temperature at home. She had asked that a note be put in my records that she requested for the nurses to take my temperature rectally. The receptionists said that all the nurses were already taking my temperature rectally using the glass thermometer with the pear-shaped bulb. It was a standard procedure at the clinic, and a preferred method. The clinic nursing staff thought the notebook was a great idea and recommended the process to all their patient's parents. Mom always brought the notebook to the clinic for all my physical and sick visits.

Mine was always rectal into my teens. Never given a choice just told pull down your pants and underwear son. That thermometer got vaseline on it and then it was over the lap or on my stomach on my bed..

No “option” – rectal thermometer until age 10. On my tummy on my bed – or across the lap by parent or Dr. on house call ..In late 1960 it became oral only..

I was never given a choice. My temp was always taken orally or in my ears at the doctor's or emergency room. At home, always orally. We've only had oral thermometers. Never had it taken rectally.

I never was given a choice. It was always rectal, way into my teen years. Usually pants down or nude bottom on tummy. Vaseline and glass rectal thermometer.

I was never given choice growing up it was always rectal temps

If the doctor or nurse ever asked me if they wanted to change me from rectal to oral…I will stick with rectal because It’s more fun being on display lol….imagine being 16 years old in just ur undies and the nurse or doctor made u lower them for a temp taking….omg! Then the nurse or doctor spread your butt cheeks and see hair around the anus because you’re not a baby anymore! Then when they plunge the thermometer in your anus it contract’s uncontrollably while they push the thermometer….imagine your parents are there watching it all…I’d probably be super wet!! Lol