For children in the 1990s, Were rectal temperatures considered abusive and very unusual?

@arika Some people who refuse hormonal contraception (reasons vary) apply methods based on temperature, timing with respect to periods, and observation of cervical fluids. As you say, it's more about spacing pregnancies than preventing them, unless perhaps you totally abstain from vaginal sex in the “possible ovulation" period in the middle of the menstrual cycle. I know some couples use it to time intercourse to obtain pregnancy, but my wife and I really did not pay attention and just went on with our normal sex life.

I had my temp taken rectally in the 1990s as well

@Pecan_nutjob Very true but that's a rather specific circumstance. They are still done more than people thing but the days of going to the doctor for a runny nose and getting one are long over… Except in our fantasies 😉 (and nothing wrong with that.)

I was born in 1980 I had rectal temps occasionally up until age 10 so yes the early 90s I was also in the hospital for tonsils I was almost 12 and I had several rectal temps then at children’s hospital in Philadelphia including one I posted about

I was born in 1953 and i got totally screwed , never had a hospital enema and never had rectal temp done

Here in my country, it's very unusual. But, it's not abusive especially if it's for medical purposes. With the technology we have now, rt taking is very rare now.

I grow up during 90s , rectal Temps were very common in my country.

Outside of the Covid screenings when entering a medical facility over the last year or so, I have never had my temperature taken at a doctor visit since I was maybe 5 or 6. Even when I went in for surgery they did not take my temp.

Maybe it's a regional thing? I've always had my temperature taken at the doctor, though of course it was always taken orally. Nurse always does it as part of basic vitals before actually seeing the doctor.

I was born in 1997. My temperature was taken rectally just before I got 12. Something around 2009 I would say. And a lot of my friends got it up to a similar age.

I think it was completly normal. My Temperature was taken that way till i was 13 und a lot of my friends know the same

I was born in 1977, I did get rectal temps occasionally up until I was probably about 8 or 10. It usually happened when my nose was too stuffy to keep my mouth closed on the oral thermometer.

Born in 1998 and rectal temperatures were not abusive, I hesitate to say common. They were absolutely common in my home up to age 5 but a rare occurrence in medical settinga.

Not really. For sure in the early years 0-2, but armpit way as long as I remember.

I'm a kid from the 1950s and 60s and as much as I can recollect, I do not remember ever getting a rectal temp.

Now, my memory is probably faulty and lacking for early years, but I do know that when I was around 7 or 8, I would have fallen dead of shame had one been taken that way. I knew it happened with other kids and dreaded the embarrassment, but as far as I can recall, never happened to me.

The Pediatrician took our rectal temperatures up until we were around 13, so that would've been in 1980. I know that rectal temperature taking was still the norm until then.

I never considered it abusive; I loved how it felt and looked forward to the butterfly in the stomach feelings that I got when we were going to a Dr appointment and I knew a nurse was going to insert a thermometer into my rectum.

I am a child of the late 80s-90s and have exactly 1 memory of a rectal temp. I was probably 3 or 4 and I remember it hurt. I do remember the ear thermometers becoming a common thing so that was what was largely used at the doctor, at school, and at home.

I also remember a conversation a family member had about, while keeping her granddaughter having to go buy this crazy expensive ear thermometer because she felt warm, and my grandmother saying “why, that’s not the only way to take a temperature” but was told that the child had never had a temp taken any other way.

My youngest daughter had a very high fever, when she was around 7, and I monitored it rectally. She was given antibiotics, at the E.R. Meanwhile, her pediatrician gave me a lecture, about how unnecessary it was, and to never do that again. The oral digital thermometer displayed 100 degrees. The glass rectal was over 103. That’s a big difference. This was the mid 90’s.

I got RT until digital ear thermometers came up in the late 90s. I memorize it well, but neither was it horrible or arousing. When I needed it, I was so sick that I just didn‘t care. What I do remember about these very strong colds is the feeling of being 100% taken care of and I think this is a big reason for my medfet.

I never even heard about rectal thermometry except as the occasional weird joke on a TV show. When I was a kid in the 90s, it was either mouth, armpit, or ear. Always felt weird to me that those would all be equally accurate.

My youngest daughter had a very high fever, when she was around 7, and I monitored it rectally. She was given antibiotics, at the E.R. Meanwhile, her pediatrician gave me a lecture, about how unnecessary it was, and to never do that again. The oral digital thermometer displayed 100 degrees. The glass rectal was over 103. That’s a big difference. This was the mid 90’s.

Your Pediatrician sounds like a self-righteous douchebag.

@bamabell I remember it hurt.

How could such a small and narrow instrument hurt? Surely the hurt much have been in the mind, not in the body.

@agracier It's possible to hurt with a rectal thermometer if you insert it in the wrong direction, without lubricant, in a child that moves around, etc. I agree that if the child is still and one does it properly, it cannot hurt.

@agracier It's possible to hurt with a rectal thermometer if you insert it in the wrong direction,

I would certainly hope no one ever tried to insert one sideways … ha ha

I grew up in France in the 80's and 90's and rectal temperature was still very common. I was not considered abusive or unusual at all. For me and my sister it was the normal way, and for many years we just didn't knew another way. I always had my temperature taken rectally until I was 11, and I am quite sure that it would have been taken rectally during my teen years if I had needed it. Even if I found it embarrassing, I never protested.

Born in ‘86 and at least have no memory of anything other than oral. I do remember seeing an ad in a pharmacy when I was maybe eight or nine for ear thermometers, (brand new technology at the time) that featured a shocked looking toddlers face and text something like “you’re already feeling sick and now mom wants to take your temperature WHERE?! No more stress with the all new blah blah…”

No, at the doctor it was taken under my armpit most of the time then they moved to the ear then the forehead. Now it’s usually forehead except in the hospital (when having babies) they always took it orally.

Only Armpit and oral temps taken.

Born in 1952 in France, rectal temperature has been the norm for me thoughout my life as it was for the members of my familly.

On some occasions, my température has been taken în my ear.

I was never given a mouth thermometer and still today I would not know how to use it. I guess I would have to ask for some assistance or for a rectal temperature.

I grew up in the 1950s and rectal temperatures were the norm. I actually liked having my temp taken rectally at an early age and always have since then. As I have mentioned on this site it is tough for me to get my wife to take my temperature rectally. I have finally convinced her and she will will do it occasionally. But she won't let me do it to her.

I was born in the 90s and they took my rectal temperature in childhood and a part of adolescence both at home and at the pediatrician from the age of 15 it bothered me that they did it so I talked to my parents and we agreed to from there oral temperature.