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

In 1978 when I was 11 and my younger brother was 3 my whole family got dressed up to get a family portrait on a Saturday morning. Right after the portrait taking was done my father and mother took us for our annual check-up. Normally my father and mother would take my young brother to his paediatrician and my dad would escort and chaperone me for my check-up. Normally this meant me standing around awkwardly in my briefs while my father observed my exam. This year was the first time my little brother and I were to be examined together.

Height and weight were done in the hall, where they deducted 5 pounds for the suits and ties we were wearing that day. As all four of us were escorted to the exam room I heard my dad say the words 'injection' and 'temperature' but paid not attention to it. The nurse said 'I will get the booster shot for your oldest, have your sons remove their clothing.

My mom was removing my brother's clothing while my father removed my tie, vest and shirt as I removed my shoes and socks. As I pulled off my t-shirt I noticed that my brother was stark naked. My father then announced 'get like your brother, everything off'. I protested that normally the doctor lets me wear my underpants. My father unbuckled my belt and pulled my pants and Fruit Of The Loom's down to my ankles.

If I knew what was good for me I realized that I was going to be stripping naked, which I did. The chairs had two huge piles of suit jackets, dress shirts, ties and underwear. I begged my father to let me put my briefs back on, he refused since he told me was going to get a 'rectal temp'. I had no idea what that was. The nurse came in and was taken aback that we were not wearing a stitch. "They could have kept their underpants on" said the nurse. My dad said we would be fine.

The nurse jabbed me in the rear end with a shot and then as she changed the exam paper she asked that I get on the table on all fours. I noticed my brother was in my mother's lap with his rear end pointing straight up. Then I was told to face the wall and I didn't know what was happening until the nurse told me to 'relax you are going to feel some discomfort when the thermometer goes in' I was still not sure what she meant until I felt a petroleum jelly covered thermometer entering my bottom. I almost jumped off the table when it was inserted and told to keep it in place for a few minutes.

That was the only time I remember having a rectal temperature done. Every time I see that family photo I realized that in an hour I was going to be writhing as my body just wanted to eject the thermometer.

In Norway rectal temperature was the norm when children got doctor visits during sickness, and I think it still is. I have seen it myself. Interestingly it was the doctor himherself that did it, not the nurse. The thermometer was digital, but got used in the anus.

I think the rectal temperature was is also an excuse for performing a rectal check, and to get a glanse at the genitals, possibly to look for signs of sexual abuse., and for signs of chronic digestive inflammation.

Norwegian authorities are suspisciously eager to bring kids into permanent medical administration of various kind, and tend to overinterprete findings to achieve this goal that bring proffit and other kind of gratification for medical experts.

I was born in 1992 and my temperature was taken rectally during the preeten age. I trink it was 12 maybe 13

I've never had one used on me- except when I use it on myself. I obviously would've loved it though. 😊

@Thermogirl92 Mom? Dad? Both? 😃

I was born in the 90’s. I seem to recall getting my temp taken rectally on my moms bed around 3rd or 4th grade when sick. Then I got a suppository of something prescribed by the doctor which was called in. Then I fell asleep.

I was born in 1989, and never had a rectal temperature taken. It was always either in the mouth or armpit.

With children, they can't be trusted to hold an oral thermometer under their tongue because, well, they're children. Digital thermometers that partially enter the ear are not accurate because with the mouth or the rectum, it closes and prevents ambient air from coming in. The most accurate way to get a temperature is to stick that glass thermometer into the patient's rectum.

@keks97 Germans demand precision.

I think the preferred method mostly depended on the family traditions and the parents. In the 70's - 80's RT was pretty popular even as pre teen or teen age. I was born in the 70's and we (sister and me) got RT and suppositories till age 12-13. If the parents growing up with similar environment it is almost sure that they will continue with their own kids as well. Nowadays as the subject here unfortunatey considered abusive in many contries.

@Supcurious I was once in a poor man's hospital in Alegria/Cebu, but I don't remember if they had digital thermometers. Could it be that they still use their mercury or alcohol thermometer?

Only abuse I remember was being 7-8yo and the nurse saying they had to take my temperature the other way “rectally” I was still young enough it didn’t bother me. The ambush she set me up for did however! Idk if this is the only reason she took it rectally or if she would have anyway but as I’m sitting there with a thermometer stuck in my butt, she gave me a shot in each cheek without warning! I can remember crying really loud. I think it was more out of suprise than actual pain. Even if she would have said “ oh btw we have to give you a shot real quick to” the no warning with your guard down , especially being your already undergoing one medical procedure, yea not cool lol. I’m sure it wasn’t near as traumatic as I remember but I do specifically remember not being happy about it lol!

Born in 1980 and as far as my parents and my pediatrician were concerned I could swear they never heard that another type of thermometer or method existed. I never had another type of temp taken until I left for college, and then TBH I found oral awkward.

Many people experienced the rectal temperature taking at home or at a doctor or hospitalized for years. Many adults still enjoy the prospect of or actual rectal temperature taking. I certainly do!

Unsure when the digital or scanners started being used, but because of their coming into the medical field, coupled with mercury concerns ( glass thermometers), the rectal method was less used.

The thermometer has changed, but the need for a rectal temperature has not. In actual illness/ accident circumstances the route is still used as indicated.

At my age despite the many taboos and hesitations about a rectal temperature taking; I have no issue rolling over, getting my briefs lowered and as my cheeks are agape as a thumb and forefinger hold them so, I am thrilled as the glass thermometer (some still around) or a digital sheathed rectal thermometer probe is shoved up my rectum!

For some reason, neither I nor my friends measured the temperature in this way. And it's not that the child took it as an insult and he felt ashamed. Neither the doctors nor the parents paid attention to this, as well as in relation to children. This is perfectly confirmed by personal experience.

Growing up and going to the doctors in the 90s I never had a rectal temp. I think they were moving away from even oral temperatures so it was always in the ear or forehead. Once or twice in may have been in the armpit.

I think you’re referring to the GERATHERM brand thermometer. It comes as you describe with a mercury substitute and the material surrounding it is a type of plastic or possibly a very thin glass I believe. There are Oral and Rectal thermometers and there is a slight difference between the bulb lengths.

But if you still have the B-D glass mercury thermometers and they are in working order, using them especially the rectal ones with

the pear shaped bulbs, you’ve got a very trusted, accurate instrument. The one thing to be mindful of is their fragility.

@Carly1988 Gerathem is European-style. The thermometers my parents used to use when I was a child were meant for oral, rectal or armpit use. I even recall reading the leaflet with one of these thermometers, which said so. At some point I asked mom why we did not do it in the mouth, like in cartoon, and she said it was unreliable.

I grew up from infancy through high school and all of my adulthood and even today @ the age of 42 (yes I still take my temperature in my bottom/rectal) having my temperature taken rectally (in my bottom….yes it’s even done @ my doctors office at “sick visit” appointments! It’s a little uncomfortable at times but doesn’t hurt! Yes I feel it in there and yes sometimes my husband and I play with the rectal thermometer but when I’m taking my temperature it’s for real and NOT IN ANY WAY SEXUAL! When I’m sick the last thing I want to do is put anything including a rectal thermometer in my bottom but it’s the only way for me to get an accurate temperature on my self! It just is what it is so I do what I have to do.

@OverRainbow Are there actual differences between Gerathem rectal and oral? I thought they were the same except one is red the other blue or green.

Gerathem, odd as it may seem no they are not, only the paper in the glass is different, Green/Blue or Red, that's it. The tube and bulb are identical.

@Pecan_nutjob ,

I am not a fan of GERATHERM thermometers for a few reasons. I haven’t had or used one in a very long time. As for the differences, I thought there was a slight difference in the bulb lengths. Then too orals are in Green packaging w/ green numbers and green case tops whereas Rectals are in a red package, red numbers as backing and featuring a baby image and with red tops for the case.

@Carly1988, I also found found having an oral thermometer under my tongue to be quite unpleasant. Not only did the pointy tip jab uncomfortably into the sublingual tissue, but I could often smell and taste the alcohol that had been used to clean it. As a result, my switch to oral temps (at around 6) was something of a traumatic experience, which I suspect has led to my lifelong interest in RTs.

... TBH I found oral awkward.

I was born in 1982 so most of my growing up was done in the 90s. Never once had my temperature taken rectally.

I actually remember my mum had this plastic strip that she would press on my forehead to take my temperature. It had little squares that would change colour. I can't imagine it was very accurate.

I found one here, looks just like the one my mum used in the 90s.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Forehead-Thermometer-Temperature-Indicator-Protective/dp/B086BJ2SCZ/

I actually remember my mum had this plastic strip that she would press on my forehead to take my temperature. It had little squares that would change colour. I can't imagine it was very accurate.

Maybe not all that accurate, but to people of my generation, those things looked like something out of a science fiction movie. Real future technology available today.

I was born in 1980 and never had rectal temperature. As far as I can remember it was always under my left arm.

I was born in 1980 and while most rectal temps had stopped by the time I was 6 or so. Occasionally I had it taken rectally till I was 11 or so and when I was around 10 or so I had my tonsils removed at children’s hospital and it was taken rectally several times by the nurse for the first day or two after surgery and I was given Tylenol suppositories for the first day or so and a bit off topic but was given a enema the second day post surgery due to constipation.

Born at the end of the 70's, may have had them as an infant, but always remember having it under my mouth. Now as an adult its forehead therm. I had kids in the 2000's and they've never had it, always ear or forehead.

I was born in 1985 and never had it taken rectally, only in my mouth and then later in my ear

I actually remember my mum had this plastic strip that she would press on my forehead to take my temperature. It had little squares that would change colour. I can't imagine it was very accurate.

My mam had a similar one she would stick on my head to take my temperature when I was feeling ill.

I am a child of the seventies and have experienced fever measuring in the buttocks on a regular basis. Even as a bigger boy. The procedure was always unpleasant for me, but at the same time this certain tingling in my stomach was probably the reason why it is my strongest fetish today.