Are Rectal Temperatures Dying Out?

A number of posters, particularly women, indicate that they have never had their rectal temperature taken as best as they can remember. Are rectal temperatures dying out? With the new electronic thermometers and other devices, do kids not get their temperatue taken rectally anymore? When I grew up, it was the only way it was taken and it was taken frequently. I doubt there are many rectal temperatures taken today in doctor's offices, clinics or hospitals. Will the rectal temperature fetish slowly die out and disappear?

Or by those who love them

Not on this site. But for sure in the doctors offices. The new methods of taking temperature via infrared in the ear are much faster and much more precise. It will take only a few seconds to have a correct result.

Your right Dr.Dom and there is no embarrassment involved with this method....but at home..my wife always gets her temp taken rectally and that's how it's going to be.

Is there a whole new generation of kids growing up who will never know the pleasure of having their rectal temperature taken? Is it a fetish that will slowly disappear as these kids grow up and don't take rectal temperatures on their kids?

It is hard to imagine that anyone could get nearly as aroused when their temperature is taken in their ear.

Come to think of it, I did have one play patient that was actually very squeamish when I would examine her with the otoscope.

I agree that the rectal temperatures are not dying out on the board, but in real exams, you are seeing them less and less because of the new high tech equipment that is supposed to be more accurate.

Fortunately my Dr (female) still will use the old fashioned glass rectal thermometer if the patient wants it. I think she also gets a thrill from it. I suspect she is Bi.

Or they will have a new fetish: Inserting something into the ears 😄

I think the ear thermometers are the future, but I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. For every medical fetish person out there, I'm sure there are several other people who were just traumatized by the experience.

That doesn't mean that the fetish will die out, though.

Gees I really don't think (rectal temperatures) will ever die out .. they are to accurate..besides I for one love to take them just to see how my patient responds, besides in this day just imagine going to your doc and having them say..roll over on your tummy for me we need to take your rectal temp.

For me I especially love to pull her (panties) down myself and then get the thermometer ready..and there is nothing more embarrassing or humiliating to have a doctor or nurse spread open your cheeks...visualize that little hole.. and then push the (glass rod).. right up inside it. Oh how I love to watch or feel the muscles close and clamp tightly around it 😁

I am really just not turned on at all by rectal temps. Sorry.

I have seen rectal temps taken in the ER on rare occasions, if they don't have the portable ear thermometers and the patient is complaining of severe nausea, but most modern hospitals and docs don't use them, because they have the ear thermometers.

I agree they are dying out, not only to the accuracy of the new ones, but because of lawsuits, etc.. So many people would say, if told they needed their temperature taken rectally, that it was unnecessary to do it that way, etc. It seems "safer" legally. I am young though, in my twenties, and I have never had it done to me. I kind of want to try.

I believe due to the number of malpractice claims these days every doctor is trying their best to insulate themselves from overly conservative parents and patients who don't like the idea of being powerless. Kinda comes done to fact many people are ashamed of their bodys and think sex is wrong. Thank you western civ stigma

Nullsapce,

You raise an issue that puzzles me greatly. In most respects this culture is more open about nudity and sexuality than ever before. Homosexuality is widely discussed, accepted, and no longer considered an emotional disorder, and even S&M is being featured in main-stream movies, like Secretary. There have also been several main-stream movies featuring transvestism. Yet, some things that used to be accepted as common-place and non-sexual, like rectal temps, suppositories, and enemas, are now considered not just sexual but abnormal. Anybody have any ideas?

Hmmm...rectal temps may be dying out in the medical profession these days....but in fetish land, I think they will reign supreme!

Hhw07 , No they're not dying out...just yet. We still do it rectally in newborns and toddlers. We also do it in certain circumstances on adults (ex. heat stroke, hypothermia, inflammation of the face and neck, head injury, etc) It's just not done anymore at doctor's offices or ERs during routine visits.

Rectal temperatures are definatlry fading out. The new digital thermomters take an average reading in about 5 - 10 seconds. Its just not time adequate to do the rectal temp anymore. You also violate the patients privacy and modestly when doing this type of temperature.

I worked in an ER for about a year and I was surprised to see how many patients temps were taken rectally. I was part of the admin staff, not the medical staff, but it seemed to be the method of choice for patients who were being sent to surgery or being admitted.

Last time my temp was taken rectally was at the ER about 20 years ago when I had a heat related illness...in my experience, rectal temps are dying out.

You can use a digital thermometer rectally, and you don't have to take it out when it beeps either.

I don't think that medical professionals want to take the time anymore. When I go to the doctor's office, I feel like I've walked into an assembly line at a factory - especially in a hospital. I think rectal temps are too time consuming for them - plus technology makes it easier for oral temps than in the past.

I wish I can get a RT in the doctor's office as I've never had one before. I don't think they do this anymore unless I can find a old fashioned office and happen that all their oral thermometers are broken.

Here in Denmark it's still the most used way to take temperature rectally - but many times with digitale thermometers. And if you in hospital get a "standard" thermometer it's put in plastic to reduce the cleaning.

I do not hope! But in Germany is that not the most way. Many do not like it. How do you see this?

He/she probably wouldn't do it that way, unless you ask for it. Most doctors in this country are counting on, that you already know your latest temperature, when you visit them. And if they have to find out themselves, they would probably use the mouth. But of course you are welcome in Denmark anyway. 😃

They are dying out, in South America is almost extinguished.

😢

RTs are the standard at my doctor's office when getting a physical exam.

I don't think so. They'll always be special cases to use them.