to think that the nurse who did my smear test was being nosy with her follow up questions?

[GoingPostal]

just been for a smear test. nurse finished, asked if I was on the pill. I thought perhaps this was a necessary question re smear so said no, then she said "so just using condoms?" - answered "well I'm widowed and don't really have an active sex life."

She said nothing to that, then asked me about an auto immune condition I have, which I see a GP at the same practice about.

am quite cross now. She's not my GP, she doesn't treat or prescribe for my auto-immune condition. I didn't ask for contraceptive advice and I don't see that it was her place to start asking these questions. Is this normal and IABU or is she just nosy?

she is a nurse with responsibility to ask health questions.wasnt a wee wummin being nosy at bus stop.was nurse asking about your health.prior to appt she probably looked at your notes to familiarise self and ask any pertinent questions

yabu. as others have said, it's part of the nurse's professional duty/training to consider the patient as a whole.

I seem to get asked about contraception at every medical appointment I have.

When I went for my last smear the nurse asked if it was Ok if a student was also present. I said OK. Then when she'd got the cervix opener thing in (or whatever it's called) she said "Oh you've got a coil", called the (male) student over and once they'd assumed the, ahem, viewing position they both stared in wonder at it. I've never felt more dignified . I don't think nurses, doctors etc really think about these things, you're just another body to them...and the poor terrified boy had to learn I suppose, bless him

Even if you had recently seen your GP regarding the auto-immune condition, it doesn't mean that your emotional / psychological needs (if there are any) regarding this were dealt with as some GPs are better at the practical diagnosing/prescribing/referring rather than the touchy-feely stuff. Nurses are there for that bit. And it is relevant to ask about contraception because of the HPV and cervical cancer risk, and health education is a large part of the nurses role too. Also, some nurses know more about certain conditions than GPs, who are "general" doctors; many nurses have a specialist interest in some conditions. As belgo says, nurses are trained to view the person as a whole.

doctors also take a holistic view.not simply reductionist set of symptoms.there is a person to be considered.good hcp thinks holistically

gosh, this is still going? I did say I realised that I was being a bit U - however, in response to all the comments that say that a nurse would be interested in my well being and taking a holistic view - if that's the case I wonder why she did not follow up on my comment about being widowed with a kind enquiry about how I am coping on that front?

anyway - as a few people have said I was probably rattled because of the question and having to explain that because my dh died I am effectively celibate for the time being, which felt like a very personal thing to have to trot out in response to a rather offhand and slightly intrusive question about whehter I use condoms, switching rapidly to a question about something entirely unrelated to my sexual health.

I see smears as a necessary evil - I hate them.

When I went for one the nurse told me I was "very small down there for someone whose had a baby" I was thrilled!!

Being on the pill can affect how your cervix looks (so I'm told), it might be because of this?

I think the other questions weren't really her business, you only went for the smear test after all.

Questions about sexual health ar relevant as smear is part of sexual health screening.

She was asking how things were re; your other conditions because she recognises that you are more than just a cervix from which to take a smear. She was interested and sometimes patients wait until they see the nurse for a 'routine' appointment then disclose issues with something else. Its very much part of her role.

I went to see a male dr, in his late 50's I would say, as I needed more diclofenec tablets for slight arthritis in my knees. He gave me a prescription then said 'how's your sex life?' I replied (somewhat shocked!) fine when I can be bothered. 'Are you having problems, he asked. I said no, but I worked long hours. So then he told me if I had any problems to try ky gel or SOAP for lubrication!
Then he asked if he could examine my breasts. He told me that he was meant to have a female in the surgery to chaperone, but he thought it a silly idea and could easily examine my breasts anyone else watching..... A very fast exit from the surgery!
Seems that the staff will not use that Dr. I changed surgeries after that. He had almost the same conversation with an 82 yr old lady!!!!

granny2boys, you should have reported that, don't see how your knees and boobs are related unless their banging off your knees lol

My nurse is talkative as well, I think she does it because she's trying to take my mind off the smear.
Certain contraceptives do affect the cervix, so I can see why she asked that.
She also chats generally about my health, I quite like that she takes an interest tbh.

Granny2boys - I think you should have/should report that too

I've never had a bad experience with the nurses at my practice however the male gynaecologist that I had to see for some laser treatment following abnormal cells being detected made me feel awful. First he asked me the contraceptive question to which I replied none "Are you trying to get pregnant" he said as though me having a baby (I had two but he didn't know)would bring about the downfall of civilization, no my partner had a vasectomy. After that with his head between my legs "How many children have you had? You have a very strange shaped cervix" Would you ever tell someone they had a strange nose???