The procedure for measuring rectal temperature in women over 18 years of age in an examination room:
1. Ask the patient to completely remove clothing from the lower part of the body, pull down panties at least to the knees and lie on the examination table in the "Swallow" position - lying on the stomach, legs spread apart to the edges of the table, arms extended along the body, head turned to the side.
2. Remove the rectal thermometer (mercury or digital) from its case, inspect it for damage, shake it (for mercury), and generously coat it with lubricant - Vaseline, KY, or silicone lubricant. Remember: using lubricant when taking rectal temperatures is MANDATORY!
3. Spread the woman's buttocks with your fingers and examine the anal area. If there are open (bleeding) wounds, taking a rectal temperature is CONTRAINDICATED.
4. Notify the patient that the procedure is about to begin and ask her to strain (simulate a bowel movement) and exhale through her mouth for a long time while inserting the thermometer.
5. While keeping the buttocks apart, slowly insert the thermometer into the patient's rectum at a rate no faster than 0.5 cm. per second, first parallel to the back and then downwards (towards the abdomen). A mercury thermometer should be inserted at least halfway into the rectum, while an digital thermometer should be inserted to the display area. If measuring the temperature of the woman's ovarian veins, the mercury thermometer can be inserted even deeper - to 3/4 of its length.
6. After the thermometer is inserted into the rectum, ask the patient if this procedure causes her any discomfort or pain.
7. To accurately measure rectal temperature, the mercury thermometer should be left in the patient's rectum for 4-5 minutes, and the digital thermometer should be left in place until the beep sounds and 1 additional minute. The woman should remain motionless during this time, making no attempt to turn or rise.
8. Due to the thermometer's design and the physiological properties of the human anus, the thermometer may partially or completely slip out of the patient's rectum during the procedure. In this case, adjust its position or reinsert it. Remember that due to the fragility of the mercury thermometer, extreme caution must be exercised when moving it inside the patient's rectum. Leaving the patient unattended with the thermometer inserted, or allowing her to touch the thermometer herself, is PROHIBITED.
9. Inserting and moving the thermometer into the rectum can often cause patients to feel the urge to defecate. In this case, the woman should be asked to be patient and wait until the procedure is complete.
10. In some cases, the patient may begin to experience pleasure or even sexual arousal during the insertion and movement of the rectal thermometer. This can typically be noticed by rhythmic pelvic movements (side-to-side rocking and up-and-down movements), trembling and tension in the hands and feet, vaginal discharge, and smooth moans. This effect is typically extremely embarrassing and humiliating for womens, so if you notice this, immediately stop moving the thermometer and allow the patient to calm down.
11. After the time required for measurement has elapsed, just as smoothly as when inserting the thermometer, remove it from the patient’s rectum, of which she should also be informed in advance.
12. Wipe the thermometer clean of any lubricant or stool particles with an alcohol wipe and record the reading. A normal rectal temperature for a healthy woman is 37.0-37.5 degrees Celsius.
13. After recording the readings, wipe the thermometer more thoroughly with an alcohol wipe and put it back in its case.
14. Wipe the patient's anal area with a clean alcohol wipe or cotton pad. To prevent possible contamination of the patient's underwear with lubricant residue, apply a clean cotton pad to her anus and ask her to hold it between her buttocks.
15. Tell the patient that she can put on her underwear, get up, and get dressed. If she feels a persistent urge to defecate, take her to the toilet.