Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About being subjected to an unnecessary pregnancy test?

37 replies

RevoltingPeasant · 10/06/2011 09:27

I strongly suspect IABU, or at least overly prickly, but....

I have to have renal surgery soon. When I met with the consultant earlier this week, he said, 'By the way, I should tell you that I will perform a pregnancy test before going ahead with the surgery. So just weeing into a cup.'

Now, I know that I cannot possibly be pregnant due to some issues that DP has that mean we are not now in a position to conceive. I said I knew I could not be pregnant, but it didn't seem to matter.

Probably I am just het up about the surgery and therefore letting my feelings cloud my judgement, but I feel like I am not an idiot, I know I'm not PG, so why do I have to take a test to prove it? The NHS is all about patient dignity and respect, even to the extent of chaperoning me when I am examined by a male doctor Shock, so why can't they take my word when I say I haven't had sex in 6 mos?

Obviously I will not say anything - I'm not going to waste the surgeon's time with objections - but AIBU to think this is a waste of resources and a bit demeaning?

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 10/06/2011 09:29

It's obviously really important that you aren't pregnant or they wouldn't need to test. They HAVE to make sure and cover their own backs, surely you can see that?

honeybee007 · 10/06/2011 09:31

Yabu there are plenty of examples of people being adamant they could not be pregnant who are, and also plenty of examples of women who give birth at full term having no clue they were pregnant, also, some people lie about not being pregnant. The consultant is doing his/her job thoroughly, a good thing IMO.

shakey1500 · 10/06/2011 09:31

I don't see it as demeaning or a waste of resources, just them being stringent and doing their job properly. It is better that they take no-ones "word for it" and perform the test, than NOT do it and face the ensuing consequences. Good luck with the surgery.

Lady1nTheRadiator · 10/06/2011 09:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Trills · 10/06/2011 09:33

It would be extremely negligent of medical professionals to just take someone's word for it that they are not pregnant.

Peeing in a cup or on a stick is hardly being subjected, is it? Hmm

You know that you are a sensible intelligent careful person who could never ever possibly be pregnant without knowing it, but its not as if there is a badge for that.

kreecherlivesupstairs · 10/06/2011 09:34

You've already stated that you won't say anything but I do understand your annoyance.
When I was pregnant in Oman, the doctor wanted to give me and HIV test, a syphillis test and shedloads of other ones including sickle cell anaemia and G6PD.
I told her that since DH had had an HIV test and the syphillis one that they were unnecessary and since I wasn't in a high risk group for SCA and G6PD I wouldn't be having those either. She caused a great fuss but since I was paying for them (and the cost would have been around 500 pounds) I took my custom elsewhere.
Good luck with the surgery.

ForeverNamechanging · 10/06/2011 09:34

I really don't get how its demeaning?

He has to do his job properly and could get into trouble if he didn't.

CMOTdibbler · 10/06/2011 09:35

I've been involved with the aftermath of patients who said there was no way they could be pg, had treatment that is really not good in pregnancy, then turned out that they were. Due diligence says that doing a pg test just makes sure there is no way a later issue can be missed

kreecherlivesupstairs · 10/06/2011 09:35

I should add, I was in a totally different situation and could take my custom (and blood) elsewhere.

LIZS · 10/06/2011 09:35

It is hardly an invasive test . Agree with others someone may be adamant but be wrong and it cause complications for surgeon and patient alike.

StrawberryMewMew · 10/06/2011 09:37

A couple of years ago my cousin was feeling ill constantly and having all sorts of problems.

The Doctors finally said she had kidney problems. Eventually on Christmas day after having feeling ill for months she went to A+E in excruciating pain and told the staff what the Doctors had told her.... The A+E Doc's turned round and told her she was in labour, she nearly died from complications while giving birth to her Daughter the following day.

Luckily they are both well but had the Doctors performed that simple 3 minute test months earlier a lot of those problems could have been avoided.

So YABU.

EricNorthmansMistress · 10/06/2011 09:38

Don't be daft. You can buy those pee sticks 3 for a quid so I imagine the NHS gets them for pennies. Hardly a waste of resources. There is always a chance you could be pregnant without knowing it (unless you are a virgin or haven't had sex in a year!) and it's only seconds of your life.

Yekke · 10/06/2011 09:39

"Sorry but I think YABU. What do you think would happen if they just took peoples word for it, and had a patient who was pregnant, and then suffered complications?"

The same, I suspect, as happens when they just take someone's word for it when they say that they haven't eaten since 7pm the previous evening or that they're not on any medication.

Or should we waste resources and demean patients by testing to prove those to be true too?

dreamingbohemian · 10/06/2011 09:39

I think YANBU, if you haven't had sex in a long time then obviously you're not pregnant, and it must be a sensitive subject for you.

But the doctor isn't BU either, they can't just take people's word for it. It's not a waste of resources if it prevents even a handful of babies from being seriously harmed.

So you're not BU but try not to take it personally. And good luck with the surgery!

chelstonmum · 10/06/2011 09:41

I was 30wks pg with DC2 before I realised. I had complete monthly periods, no sickness, aches, heartburn etc and had gone down 2 dress sizes and had an internal exam at 20wks with no baby found.

Between having DC2 and now being pg with DC3 I took regular tests just to be sure!

FoofffyShmoofffer · 10/06/2011 09:44

If they didn't routinely test everyone regardless and god forbid something went wrong there would be cries of negligence. As someone stated earlier it's due diligence and seconds out of your life.

Set it aside and focus on the real issue which is your operation.

2blessed2bstressed · 10/06/2011 09:48

But Yekke....someone who says they haven't eaten will be sick after anesthetic - but being pregnant might mean the foetus dies during surgery - or that there will be serious complications for the mother. It's not quite the same. And anyway, you pee in a cup for your pregnancy test....how exactly do you test to see if someone has fasted?

Yekke · 10/06/2011 09:52

Someone who says they haven't eaten, as far as I'm aware, could die under anaesthetic, 2blessed. Of course, someone who denies they are taking any meds could suffer contra-indications when given other drugs and that can kill too. Same thing.

How to check? I don't know, I've only ever been the patient not a Doc. :o Drug test for the latter, possibly X ray for the former?

honeybee007 · 10/06/2011 09:57

Yekke if people choose to lie about fasting and medication they are risking their own life,potentially, but if they lie or are unaware about being pregnant they risk themselves and their unborn child. I don't think they are comparable really.

Original poster
RevoltingPeasant · 10/06/2011 10:00

Hmm, thanks ladies.

Yeah, kreecher and Yekke pretty much sum up my feelings on the matter: I haven't had sex in at least 6 mos and probably longer due to its being v painful for DP because of a condition he has. So unless you believe in the Artificial Insemination Fairy or incubi, then I am deffo not pg - bit different than saying, 'But I take the pill religiously!'

And Trills it is being subjected, sorry, if you are told that necessary surgery depends on it!

I suppose I feel like I'm being treated like a silly little girl a bit, but this may be clouded by the fact this particular consultant, although very medically competent and a nice guy, has slightly rubbed me up the wrong way by assuming that I couldn't be married because I use 'Ms' and a few other things.

But yes, I understand due diligence... It just feels a bit invasive, but since they're rooting around in my vital organs, suppose it should be the least of my worries!!

OP posts:
LoveBeingAbleToNamechange · 10/06/2011 10:04

Think you are probably reacting due to your feelings about him, I thought it was standard to test all women before surgery tbh. Afterall you could be 7 mths gone and not know Wink

honeybee007 · 10/06/2011 10:07

A urine test is invasive??

I understand you haven't had sex in 6 months, but pregnancy is 9 months and as a previous poster said, she was 30 weeks before knowing and had had an internal examination at 20 weeks, shes not a silly little girl for not knowing she was pregnant.

You are still expecting the consultant to take your work for it that you haven't had sex in 6 months, I assume he doesn't know you or your dh personally or intimately so he is not in a position to know that you are telling the truth. It IS frustrating having an extra unnecessary test BUT that extra unnecessary test may well save a woman and her child because she didn't know she wasn't pregnant.

Doctors doing their jobs properly saves lives, doctors listening to patients rather than following procedures to rule out things like pregnancy saves lives and still people moan about them. They can't win.

honeybee007 · 10/06/2011 10:07

work word for it

honeybee007 · 10/06/2011 10:08

Wasn't should be was argh should have read back more carefully sorry

olderandwider · 10/06/2011 10:11

YABU

Imagine the stink if someone turned out to be pregnant during such an operation. The doctors have to be 100% sure and experience will have told them, and as other MNers have said, some patients are unaware of their pregnancy, even at very advanced stages. You can't expect to be treated differently and opt out of the very sensible protocols that are in place to avoid such mistakes.