Women and rectal temperatures

Do ladies today get their temperatures taken rectally anymore? When I was growing up, it was pretty much the norm to have your temp taken rectally by your mom and sometimes by a nurse in the doctor's office. But times have changed. Are there any women out there willing to discuss this topic? Do you ever get a rectal temp at the doctor's office anymore? If so, how do you feel about it? Please give some details about the circumstances of having it taken. Thanks.

The last time I know of was when I was 4 or 5. Most doctors use the ear therms. Both good and bad. I would want them to take it, but at the same time wouldn't want them to see my arousal

Today there are much more precise methods of taking temperature then in the past. Today fever measurement is normally done by infrared.

Like Dr Dom said, I have mostly had it via infrared... not rectally.

I did once, but with technology it is not as common unless they want an exact temp. It is still the most accurate way to do it

It was a long time ago, but when I worked as a PA in a female juvenile detention center that's how their temps were taken. But like I said, it was a long time ago. I work in an ER now and have never seen a rectal temp taken except in one case on a young person where they could not take it in the ear or orally because of obstructions or something like that, but that was several years ago and I can't remember the exact circumstances.

The only time I can remember a rectal temp being done on me is when I had severe abdominal pain. My temp was up orally so the nurse said they wanted a core temp.

I am 22 and have never had it done to me. I think the practice has pretty much ended...at least in the US.

When I was a kid I (or parents when i was little) took it with a rectal. I am studying medicine and from what i have seen so far rectals are still used quite often in scandinavia in the hospitals, but i do not think the GP (? or what your "everyday" doctor is called) uses it.

ive seen it on the wards of geronto, infection (makes sense) and GI.

When I was younger, my parents would take my temp orally. At the pediatrician it was either orally or under the arm(pit). I can't ever recall having it done rectally. In a play exam, however, I would love to have my temp taken rectally and vaginally!!!

Until the age of 5 i think

I can see rectal temperatures being used if the patient has respirator problems and taking an oral temperature is out of the question. But taking a rectal temperature as the default method of registering a person's body temperature kinda fell out of practice.

My friend in 4th grade told me she had to get one because she wouldn't cooperate and open her mouth.

I have always had my temp taken rectally and still do to this day. According to all of the medical sites and professionals, it still is the most accurate way to get a reading and is known as the "gold standard." My doctor also believes that this is the most accurate way to obtain a temp. I am 47 and aside from the accuracy of the method, I find it extremely enjoyable.

Mine was always taken orally...

In fact, I knew about rectal temperatures not too long ago (during college years).

I guess it is a matter of parental decision at first, after that it's whether you like it or not. But I've never heard some girl say that she takes her temperature rectally.

Sclaura,

You are lucky to have found a doctor who is still more concerned about accuracy than about false modesty or speed. Many nurses seem to be content with just getting a number to write in the chart, even if it clearly is inaccurate (e.g., 95 or 96 degrees). However, since rectal temps on adult is rare (and would "freak out" some adults), I am interested in how your doctor first brought up the issue. Did she explain it was her practice or did you ask for rectal temps? Is that her practice for all her patients or just the ones who prefer it? Thank you.

Whenever a glass thermometer is used to take a temperature, whenever there is a perceived risk of one having a mishandling one in his/her mouth, a rectal temperature is advisable.

Hospitals were the first medical institutions to employ electronic thermometers in the 1970s, but clinics and doctors offices continued to use glass thermometers into the 1980s and early 1990s. So while a doctor's office or clinic still used glass thermometers, rectal temperatures were taken for low functioning youngsters. The transition age from rectal to oral temperatures varied, mandatory age for a rectal temperature was up to the age of five years old. Above that age were low functioning intellectually challenged) and and immature youngsters others that were considered a risk for mishandling a glass thermometer in their mouths.

It is unknown how many families still use glass thermometers or for that matter how many medical practices use them as well. It is likely there might be a small pockets of resistance to the electronic devices. Widespread use of glass thermometers may be found in developing countries.

Idoctor21,

Good point that we need to keep the fantasies in the "stories" or "dream/fantasy" sections. Whenever I read something that makes me skeptical, I try to give the writer the benefit of a doubt, assuming that English may not be their primary language, or that there was some special circumstance(s) in the incident they have not (fully) explained. Thus my questions. Sometimes "truth is stranger than fiction" and I want to give the writer every opportunity to fully explain what may sound like an outlandish and improbably story.

Along with most responses here i have not had temp taken rectally in many many years but i do remember having it done when i was little. I hated it..i do remember it feeling awkward and uncomfortable but not painful, and the worst part was the doc/parent waiting, glancing over at your bum, moving it around a little bit then taking it out and wiping it off... gross.

During my summers at the lake with my aunt and my girl cousin we both had our temperatures checked every morning by my aunt. We would go into her bedroom where we would drop our pajama bottoms and go one at a time over aunty's lap. I had a crush on my aunt and liked being bare over her lap. Having her insert the thermometer in my bottom was, overall, a pleasant sensation. My cousin Susie was present when I was over aunty's lap and I watched her get the same treatment. We were both about 9 or 10 and beginning to become curious but not yet self-conscious.

I've played with loads of girls from different cultural backgrounds. There are some that never heard of having temps taken in the rectum. I liked the part where they agreed to try though 😉

😃 My first wife and I used to take each others temps rectally. My second wife won't hear of it. The last time I had it taken rectally is when I did it to myself. Wished I had some woman whom enjoyed rectal temps as much I do.

I had my temp taken rectally at the doctors office till I was 10.

I think the in the mind clarissa's gynocologist if I'm going to be performing a pelvic on some patient the idea of modesty becomes moot when it comes to oral vs rectal temperatures. When modesty becomes a moot issue so you might as well get an accurate reading.

1) For a GYN exam, or a routine physical for that matter, why is there a need to measure body temperature at all?

Duh! Body temperature is an indicator of where a woman is in her cycle. It gives a GYN a baseline (likewise if it is taken intra-vaginal/basal) My question, borrowing from the late and revered JFK, "Why ask "why"? Ask, "why not?" !!!

Actually clarisacares, you are only somewhat correct here. Yes, measuring a womans body temp is in fact an indicator or where a woman might be in her cycle, but measuring her temp at the doctors office would seldom if ever be done for this reason.

Because a womans temp varies only very very slightly during ovulation, meaning by tenths, and then not always, it has to be done while she is in bed, just waking up, and with very little movement on her part, meaning easily reaching over to the bedstand and inserting the thermometer. That means no stretching, no yawing, no getting up to go to the bathroom etc. Even as little movement as this is enough to change the temp enough to raise or lower her temp if shes using an ovulation thermometer.

So taking a temp at a doctors office would never be an accurate reading for ovulation purposes, never!

Also, as sad as this is, really, unless your patient is there for a first appointment, which would be to establish a baseline for everything, there is really no need for anyone to take your temp unless you were there presenting with a problem that might raise or lower your temp, i.e. the flu, infection, etc. Other than that, taking your temp or most other vital signs really is a total waste of your time and the professionals skills and time. So why bother?

His question in this medical professionals opinion is quite valid actually? Why?

Im just saying, lol.

Rectal temperatures are not used near as much. I did receive them when I was younger, but I have not seen or heard of a case since.

You're right Mashie to draw attention to the futility of taking a temperature reading at a doctors office , except when the reading is grossly high, as in a fever.

I'm minded (off topic I know) to draw a comparison with taking a blood pressure reading at the doctors office too.

A patient has been likely driving through traffic, has trouble finding a parking place, exerted themselves getting into the office - and then sat anxiuously awaiting the call. Their blood pressure is raised! Is it any wonder?

I walk to my infrequent visits to the doctors surgery. My blood pressure is taken and it's high ish. I walk back home, rest for a short while and then use my sphygmometer (varied spellings) and the BP is the same as all my other weekly home checks!

There's a wide range of systolic and diastolic pressures between borderline high and borderline low - what your norm is, is more important! And that applies to temperature too.

We playdocs who measure our patients temperatures, by whatever means, are 'playing' since we know nothing about that patients norm. Long may 'playing' continue but we shouldn't get too hung up about accuracy.

I think most offices use infrared now...and I am 41 and I don't recall having a rectal temp taken when I was younger. Ironically, I'm sure I'd have fought it like crazy...as I had a hyper developed sense of modesty.

However, after reading Thermdoc's entry, I believe I stand corrected. lol

The only time I'm aware of people having rectal temperatures taken are for a core measurement is a critical situation (ie, severe hypothermia) where the temperature actually determines the treatment, medication options, etc. I've also seen them taken in pts with altered mental status. I can't imagine a GP or OB/GYN doing it these days, for fear of litigation. Then again, people surprise me all the time.

I have a few fuzzy memories of my mom doing it when I was extremely small, but it's been oral ever since. When I had my wisdom teeth out and couldn't do oral, they used the infrared one that you slide across the forehead. Sort of disappointing, actually. But that's what play docs are for!