Is it standard for GPs to ask women about contraception, even if the appointment is non-related?

[IWantToBeLizzyNotCharlotte]

It's just this has happened to me the last two times I have been the doctor- asking why I haven't been prescribed contraception or I haven't had a smear test.

I've never had sex so they're both unnecessary.

I'm going tomorrow morning and I think I am seeing a male GP (about a throat infection). Will he ask?

I understand asking whether or not someone is using contraception, likely faster than going through any notes there, however, I would find it very odd if specifically asked why I wasn't on a prescription BC. That feels like they assume I should be for some reason.

I get asked about contraception a lot, but usually when dealing with medications that don't go well with certain BC or things that could be a concern for using or from BC like blood pressure which comes up in most of my appointments (partially because no one believes digital cuffs rarely work on me and then confusion and concern when I'm right).

OP I'm at the doc a lot for various reasons

generally it does really annoy me how an appointment for x becomes about y.....I am on contraception so can't comment on that aspect but they do seem to have a bunch of other stuff they want to ask.

What I've done is smile and politely say "before you go to those questions, I still need to talk about...." and that leaves minimal time for the extras.

I too, would be interested to know, what happens if a bloke goes to the doc with a chest infection or whatever...do they get asked all the extra questions?

Well I was assuming they ask about contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancies - which is why I suggested they should do men as well. Otherwise it just reinforces the view that contraception is a female only issue.

Alien, yes

also I wonder, do they ask men about smoking - I'm asthmatic, though I suppose it's not that rare for an asthmatic to suddenly take up smoking (!), do they ask about their prostate, etc. Do they suddenly check their weight when you are clearly not overweight and in for something else entirely....

it all seems particularly random to me as I have asthma clinic, Pill check, and routine checks for A&D, and for stuff relating to a serious injury I had in the past. So when I go in and say I've got tendonitis or whatever, it's not like their squillion long checklist isn't covered for me already as I'm there so often!

It's a sensible question to ask. It can interfere with other medication they might prescribe. I was asked at my mental health assessment as it can obviously affect mood.

It doesn't matter if you're sexually active - some women take the pill to regulate periods.

And men can't get pregnant and won't be taking hormonal contraception, so it's irrelevant to them. If there was a pill for men that affected them in the same ways then of course they should ask.

@Alienspaceship most forms of contraception are a female only issue. Sadly. I long for the day when they can finally produce a reliable male pill!

Lockheart oh I agree in the general sense - or if they said "this will interfere with your pill".

but the OP said they specifically ask her "why" she isn't on any contraceptives - which seems to me totally different. They could say "if you are on any other medication, this might interfere".

They ask me about drinking and smoking every time too. I don’t smoke and hardly drink - she never seems to believe me when I say I drink 1-2 units a week.

I don't smoke and I may have a glass of something on New years eve but that is it, apparently there isn't a tick box for that, I can either be teetotal (I'm not) or 1-2 units a week! Which didn't bother me until I had some odd blood test results and the GP said don't worry a large glass of wine in the evening will cause those results so we will just ignore them, (great, except I only drink on New years and it was June).