My Husband Visited the GP Today

[PersonA]

And he was asked what GENDER he IDENTIFIES as.

He had already declared his sex (male) on the form.

This was his first GP visit since we have moved area.

My husband is a “stereotypical male” he has short hair, a beard, shirt and tie etc etc.

He is not massively aware of the whole gender debate and just mentioned this in passing as he thought it a weird question.

On pressing him the GP said “yes, sorry, I have to ask, the world seems to be going mad”

My issue here is this: what if he said he identifies as female? What fucking difference would that make? Would he be given smear tests?

I really feel for doctors in this day and age and the fact they have to ask this.

What is going on?? Will people wake up to how absurd this is at some point?

Wear a dress. Wear lipstick. Be a “stereotypical” female if it makes you happy. I really don’t care. When it enters the medical profession/ NHS/ Doctor’s have to ask if a man (who has already said he is male) self identifies as a woman?? It’s going too far.

If I had indicated that my sex was female and the doctor asked me what gender I identified with I would have problems with answering. What does gender identity even mean?

There are going to be a lot of very confused elderly people if this becomes standard, and a 10 minute appointment may not be enough time to explain what a gender identity is and why you're asking them such a stupid question when they just came in for a flu shot.

Honestly I think he really should have been asked the sexual orientation question as although it won't majorly affect the healthcare treatment as nobody gets hormone treatment for being gay (at least I hope not in modern day Britain) it's good to know what sexual health services your GP offers specific to your orientation, I was asked when I registered. Getting a full idea of your patient's medical history (transgender will likely at some point come into medical history whether it's hormone treatments, surgeries, therapy, etc) is what the health care system should be about and would prevent many minsdiagnosises and confusions in the future. When my grandad first got dementia, the GP missed that he was diabetic on his records and he forgot to say so; luckily my mother who was a nurse caught that he couldn't have the medication the GP was prescribing. Not asking enough questions leads to mistakes and then lawsuits. The real question shouldn't be why did they ask him that question it should be why doesn't the NHS have the time and money to ask more silly questions to make 100% sure? America are very strict about these things and while their system is far from ideal, it does protect the doctors and nurses from lawsuit a lot better than the NHS system does.

In terms of smear test funding, I agree it shouldn't affect it but thats an administrative issue that should be easily fixed like one of the early commenters was saying. They need to have a button to say "does not have a cervix" and therefore they won't be counted amongst that. Instead of moaning on Mumsnet, a petition could easily solve that as it's clearly a administrative issue?? Explain the smear test funding issue and I bet you transgender women will also have your back and support you even though it doesn't directly affect them because that's the type of community they are. It's not like they lie to the doctors and say they have cervixes and don't want to do the test, they'll straight up tell their doctors that they don't need a smear test. It's the NHS administrative system that pushes them back.

But why in the name of God does he"have to ask"?? It's not remotely relevant, is it? . They didn't ask until very very recently and the world turned just fine.
The whole trans thing is a surreal circus careering out of control.

Well, I'm not elderly yet! My mum who is 92 has just about accepted she's in the elderly bracket even though she still feels she's in her 30s but I do understand your point Angry

Does not have a cervix, as opposed to is biologically male? Ffs...

Frankly, GP surgeries should not be paid based on how many of their female patients they can get to submit to a smear test. However, it’s madness to ask gender. I’m moving soon and if I get asked at my practice there will be stern words!

Yeah, that. Women are allowed to refuse treatment we don't want, and our GPs shouldn't get bonuses for pestering us into it.

Oh and my mum had a physical experience last year that made her finally accept her age and the limitations; it was a downpour of epic proportions as she left the supermarket to get back to her car. It frightened her badly. She has since got a blue badge and gets her children who live nearby to take her everywhere now even though she had her driving licence renewed!

I was pestered several times with letters to attend a smear test, with even the caveat that I might loose my place in the surgery if I didn't attend, AFTER I had had a hysterectomy. It took three phone calls, the last ending in tears, to finally drill the point home that I no longer required the service.

One more point. I have refused to go to breast screening. They were totally fine with that and said that if I ever did change my mind, I could book an appointment. The breast screening service came from the local hospital (which is a large hospital).

It might be as simple as the GP would know which pronoun to use for his/her patient. Why the big drama over checking with him.

When I was pregnant my midwives had to check I wasn't an illegal immigrant at every contact. They seemed really embarrassed about it.

It's a symptom of out-of-control managerialism as much as anything else.

If I were ever asked what gender I was I would say, my sex is female, gender is a social construct. I am not a social construct.

I think I've refined my answer. My gender is 'unlimited'. Sex F. You may call me Lottie or Ms Garbanzo.

Unlimited by any expectations anyone may wish to place upon me and what I think, feel, say or do, based on perception, rather than legitimate qualification. Will that cover it?

I'm at the point of taking the piss, honestly.

"Fern. My gender is fern. What do you mean that's not a gender? Look it up, Tumblr agrees with me."

@Elendron - that’s disgusting (and illegal!). I would have written a complaint letter to management for that. I’m so sorry you had to deal with it.

Explain the smear test funding issue and I bet you transgender women will also have your back and support you even though it doesn't directly affect them because that's the type of community they are.

Isn't that lovely. All we ever had to do was explain.

I have to register with a new doctor next week.

I wonder what box they will tick when I reply "none - gender is a social construct that I do not identify with at all"?

Just when you think you've peaked, you peak a little bit more. And I'm sure there's more to come

Utterly bloody ridiculous. I like the sound of your husband's GP though

On pressing him the GP said “yes, sorry, I have to ask, the world seems to be going mad”

I agree with your DH's GP.

TaliZorahVasNormandy I'm not happy about leaving them either. However I must admit I'm looking forward to their new dragon age though

I'll play the new one Amy, I'm just not gonna buy it. I'll rent it. If there's more Cullen, I'm there.

It's not like they lie to the doctors and say they have cervixes

Oh really? You haven't come into contact with the wilder fringes of transactivism.

because that's the type of community they are.

Right. Of course.