Man being asked if they're pregnant??

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Had the covid vaccine and as a female, was asked if there is any chance I'm pregnant. Fair enough question I thought. But a male friend was asked too and the nurse told him "you can't be too careful these days". Umm what??

AIBU to think it's ridiculous to ask a MAN if they're pregnant?

Standard question they ask, none issue.

The midwife at my booking in appointment for my first pregnancy asked if I was a woman, and had I been born a woman.

I'm sorry but this is beyond ridiculous!

It's important because it affects statistics and pregnancy is a protected characteristic. Men can't get pregnant so recording stats as 'only 5% of people who turned up were pregnant' is utterly meaningless if actually you mean 'only 10% of women who turned up were pregnant'.

This is a critical point. These figures may end up as data for an analysis of whether this vaccine is safe for pregnant women.

@littlemisslozza

The midwife at my booking in appointment for my first pregnancy asked if I was a woman, and had I been born a woman.

I'm sorry but this is beyond ridiculous!

Why?

They need to know!!

Because you can't be pregnant if you are a man!

Why not get to the point in one Q without wasting anyone's time rather than asking two or three to get the same result?

Because it's weird to ask men "are you pregnant" without referring to the trans issue. It's likely to get a bemused response.

@littlemisslozza

Because you can't be pregnant if you are a man!

Semantics are all well and good but this is clinical data. They need to ask the questions.

Why?

They need to know!!

If you are having a booking in appointment you are female. That's all they need to know, and they know it because you are pregnant.

I challenge them to find the pregnant man amongst the women then! Some things are over thought I'm afraid, in my opinion.

Not biting.

No, I'm sorry but men do not get pregnant. You can identify as male if you choose but you are biologically female if you have got pregnant. Can't deny science.

Crazy. But judging by responses it seems as though they’ve been told to ask

If they need to ask people of child bearing age then fine

But to ask men and women who are in their 70's and 80's just defies bloody logic

@TheTeaCosyofDoom

My partner (74, and definitely male) was asked if he might be pregnant by a very embarrassed nurse - "Sorry about this, we have to ask". I was with him because he has dementia and Parkinson's Disease and I am his carer. I said, "If he is, it's nowt to do with me". When it was my turn the nurse said, "You know what I'm going to ask, don't you?" I said, "I wish I was, I could make a few bob out of it at my age." Bonkers.

"If he is, it's nowt to do with me"

That made me giggle. That’s absolutely crackers. I get they have to be inclusive but this is bonkers. The poor nurse having the ask a 74 year old male this. Forgetting about his sex, pretty sure his age wouldn’t allow him to fall pregnant anyway.... crackers like!

This is why it is important for health based services to ask for a person's SEX i.e. their biology. If someone had already given their biological sex as male, they wouldn't need to be asked if they could be pregnant.

What this thread shows is that language around this is heavily loaded. So tbh, I think avoiding the whole male/female/man/woman/trans/gender/sex vocabulary minefield by simply asking "are you pregnant" is probably the safest route to go down with least chance of offending someone and quickest way of answering the question.

Perhaps prefaced by "this might sound strange but we do need to ask everyone" where it seems appropriate!

Grow up, I have been nursing 30 years and I always ask, me not because I am being "inclusive" but because I have a "spiel" and if I drop that bit I might lose the flow or forget it were it is important, so I ask everyone, it normally raises a smile, and relaxes everyone and means that when I asked a 50 year old women once, she laughed then pauses and then said I don't know, it could be the menopause, we rebooked and sure enough she was pregnant.

Grow up, I have been nursing 30 years and I always ask, me not because I am being "inclusive" but because I have a "spiel" and if I drop that bit I might lose the flow or forget it were it is important, so I ask everyone, it normally raises a smile, and relaxes everyone and means that when I asked a 50 year old women once, she laughed then pauses and then said I don't know, it could be the menopause, we rebooked and sure enough she was pregnant.

Yes, you have an amusing spiel, I'm sure, but it's in the delivery I guess or do you actually make men or 80 year olds think you think they might be pregnant?

I wouldn’t of given this a thought, isn’t this standard protocol questions even after you ticked form boxes.

My mum was asked by surgeon, we laughed it was clearly obvious not even a miracle chance.

Even my son - the consultant only laughs at same joke now.

Have you ever asked women if they pregnant and they not? Awkward! so Yes I think I’d ask everyone this question regardless

@upthekyber

Grow up, I have been nursing 30 years and I always ask, me not because I am being "inclusive" but because I have a "spiel" and if I drop that bit I might lose the flow or forget it were it is important, so I ask everyone, it normally raises a smile, and relaxes everyone and means that when I asked a 50 year old women once, she laughed then pauses and then said I don't know, it could be the menopause, we rebooked and sure enough she was pregnant.

Yeah right.

Anti or pro trans view aside. I actually don't think this is a thing which effects anyone else apart from the person being asked. So why are people so bothered?

@littlemisslozza

No, I'm sorry but men do not get pregnant. You can identify as male if you choose but you are biologically female if you have got pregnant. Can't deny science.

I totally agree with you. It's absurd to ask are you a female if you're pregnant. I'd be inwardly offended if asked this at a booking in appointment. I wouldn't say anything to the HCP as they've obviously been told to ask but would think it's insane.

If I saw this happen I'd know why. But I'd be surprised if someone who didn't understand what it was all about didn't decide on the spot that if they don't know basics then theres no way they are trusting them to give them the vaccine.

This is why records should not be able to be altered to reflect identity rather than sex.

People are wary enough of the new vaccine as it is , and are wary enough about covid they are probably a bit scared of being there , being greeted with a staff member who doesn't appear to know.men don't have babies could be enough to tip them.over the edge and have them.walk out all together.

Having staff made to look like idiots , rather than make it compulsory to fill out records correctly, seems a bit counter productive imo

I agree, medical staff are simply going to look completely incompetent, asking 70 and 80 yr olds if there're pregnant. It's bloody stupid. Doesn't anyone have common sense anymore?!

@DobbyTheHouseElk

My mum was asked if she was pregnant. She’s nearly 80. She thought it was hilarious.

I think it’s not the nurses job to assume things. If a mistake was to happen because a nurse “assumed” I’m sure there would be uproar.