Why Do They Always Ask Me This Question At The Doctor's Office?

[Anonymous]

Even if I go for a routine physical or if I go to the E/R...Whatever it is....I always am asked, "When was the first day of your last period?"

I was just wondering why nurses or medical assistants always ask this.

[Anonymous]

B/c they're trying to figure out if there's a chance you could be pregnant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even if I go for a routine physical or if I go to the E/R...Whatever it is....I always am asked, "When was the first day of your last period?"

I was just wondering why nurses or medical assistants always ask this.

You really don't know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:B/c they're trying to figure out if there's a chance you could be pregnant.

And thus they want to make sure you aren't, especially if they will run any tests that is contraindicated for pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

In case you are pregnant, in case it ties into what is going on with you, because it is a question that must be asked per their hospital protocol

[Anonymous]

OP Here.

I wondered this too.

Even when I go into to see my psychiatrist every two weeks, a medical asst. comes out to check my blood pressure, weigh me and take my temp and she always asks me this and I guess I feel it's irrelevant since I am only going to talk to my Dr., not have any physical-type treatment done.

Also, I am 45 so I find it odd that any Dr. would even think I could be pregnant at this age.

[Anonymous]

I find the question annoying because a decent number of women still bleed when they're pregnant — asking when somebody's last period was does not rule out pregnancy.

Also, I'm a lesbian.

[Anonymous]

It helps ascertain if a woman could be pregnant. If pregnant, many drugs and medical procedures that cannot be safely given/ used without risking fetus.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand what being a lesbian has to do with a question about your cycle. It's a fairly standard question related to an important aspect of female health. No one is passing any value judgments on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even if I go for a routine physical or if I go to the E/R...Whatever it is....I always am asked, "When was the first day of your last period?"

I was just wondering why nurses or medical assistants always ask this.

You really don't know?

Not the OP. I'm 43 and on the pill and have my period every 3 months. I can never remember when my last period but with a calendar I can figure out when it must have been. But I never remember off the top of my head.

[Anonymous]

In addition to determining if you might be pregnant, it can be useful for medical practitioners to know where their female patient is in her monthly cycle. This can affect the way they interpret bloating, breast fullness, emotional state, etc.

[Anonymous]

In addition to determining if you might be pregnant, it can be useful for medical practitioners to know where their female patient is in her monthly cycle. This can affect the way they interpret bloating, breast fullness, emotional state, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even if I go for a routine physical or if I go to the E/R...Whatever it is....I always am asked, "When was the first day of your last period?"

I was just wondering why nurses or medical assistants always ask this.

Are you a male? If so, yes, this is a weird question.

[Anonymous]

I had a hysterectomy, noted in the file, and still get this question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find the question annoying because a decent number of women still bleed when they're pregnant — asking when somebody's last period was does not rule out pregnancy.

Also, I'm a lesbian.

LOL, unless you are a lesbian without a uterus, why couldn't you be pregnant?