Pregnancy test before minor surgery

[mucky123]

Just really seeking opinions not having a big rant (it all worked out fine for me in the end).
I went for minor surgery under general anaesthetic at the start of the week. It was through my private medical insurance so not an NHS hospital.
As part of the routine all women aged 12 to 55 are asked to take a pregnancy test as surgery could be detrimental to the fetus. I am definitely not pregnant but agreed to take a test.
As I had not drunk all night prior to the surgery and had a large pee in the morning before arriving, try as I might I could not produce a sample for the test. After quite a long time of trying it was time for the op. I asked if they could find out what was happening and if the op could go ahead if I signed a consent form acknowledging I was not pregnant.
The next thing I knew the nurses were entering saying that they needed to put a catheter in to extract urine to do the pregnancy test. I declined this and said that I would not agree to having an embarrassing intimate procedure that carries risks to my bladder health in order to tick a box for the hospital when there is no chance on earth I could be pregnant. I would rather not do the procedure.
The consultant then arrived and said of course that was fine so long as I signed to say I know the risks.

I suppose my aibu is just why should women be pushed to have an intimate procedure like a catheter in order to tick a box that they are not pregnant. I understand that asking all women routinely to do pregnancy tests reduces the risks of accidentally carrying out surgery on a pregnant woman (although I would suggest this is misogynistic assuming women cannot make their own decisions) but I think expecting women to have a catheter to deal with this goes too far. At that stage they should just emphasise the risks and asked for signed acknowledgement (like I did in the end).

I agree a signed declaration should be enough.

Massive cringe on their behalf. Surely the form was enough? I hate catheters plus l am 44 now and had a number of rounds of IVF so it’s unlikely lm pregnant

Well done for refusing the catheter, I hope you're recovering well from your op.

I was the same as you, woke up morning before surgery had a wee at home not thinking. Was nill by mouth until my. Op where I couldn't produce a sample because I hadnt drunk anything.

Luckily for me at the time I was on the contraceptive implant and they took this as an OK to go with no pregnancy test.

If they had wanted to use a catheter I would have refused much like yourself.

I get they have to make sure but you if you sign to say you agree even though there may be a risk then that should be that.

They don't press you further when you have to tell them when you last ate before surgery and that also carries risk if you lie and say you havent eaton ehr you have! They don't stick a camera down into your stomach to make sure before they put you under. That would be OTT

Doesn’t sound like you were pushed though to have it done. They said they’d need to give you a catheter, you declined then you said the consultant said of course that was fine. I can understand why the pregnancy test is done before the surgery but they also let you decline the catheter and have the surgery with a signed form of you understanding the risks. Sounds like a non issue tbh as you wasn’t pushed into anything

I was on my period towards the end and had to have IVF for my children. I also had not had USI in the weeks preceding my op. First nurse said fine, 2nd one forced me to do it and I had to walk down a corridor with a bowl of wee! It was so undignified. I heard them talking about me because I had initially refused. I was so upset. Doing pregnancy tests is traumatic for me - too many single lines over the years so I absolutely didn't want to do one.

So they literally tried to take the piss. Sorry to derail, but that's quite funny. Signing the declaration should be fine as long as you understand the risks. It's mainly to cover their arses should something go wrong.

I've been in this situation too, but the nurse didn't mention a catheter, she just got annoyed with me!
I ended up getting annoyed back and ensured them that my word was sufficient.
It put me under quite a bit of stress and anxiety before my operation, which I did not appreciate.

You are obviously correct in that you can refuse to provide a urine sample.
Just as the surgeon can then decide to refuse to do your surgery.
Its their neck in the block if it turns out you are in fact pregnant.
And no offence- patients lie. Taking your word for it is no defence medico-legally.

I disagree Paganpentacle, I believe it would be a defence against both a med neg case and a civil case (both of which could only be brought by me/my family) if I had signed to say I was not pregnant (I am a solicitor although not in this area so there might be something that I am unaware of).
I agree I was not forced but I was put under a bit of pressure to have the catheter and I don't think this should even have been suggested. It could not possibly have been in my best interests. Had I been a younger woman I might have assumed I had to agree.