Went to the doctors yesterday and being that we moved, and this was a new physician I was seeing, I had to fill out one of those medical histories. All the normal stuff was there....then, near the end of the form....

"How would you describe your sexuality?"

Excuse me?? I was shocked and wrote, "HUH?" in the space provided. Why in the hell is it important for them to know how I would describe my sexuality? I don't go around introducing myself as "I'm Paige, a heterosexual. And you are and perfer?" My sexuality is no one's business, not even my physicians!! In retrospect, I should have written "Healthy! and yours?" in the space provided. I just don't get it.

By Ginnyk on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 05:51 pm:

Oh. Well, to some extent it is a medical question. Though I think it could have been phrased differently - much differently. And probably should have been a verbal question rather than on a questionnaire - and a very tactful verbal question.

But a doctor does need to know if you are sexually active, if you are monogamous in your sexual activity, and truly does need to know, at least for men, whether you are hetero or homosexual. Why? Because it makes a difference in how the doctor can view symptoms when you become ill.

(Why particularly needing to know if a man is homo or heterosexual? Because homosexual women almost never are exposed to HIV and a whole bunch of other STDs.)

I would not like that kind of question either, partly because working as a legal secretary I get to read lots of medical records, and having a patient's/client's sexual orientation in black and white is not, to my mind, a good idea. Especially because while we represent the injured party, the lawyer representing the insurance company for the person who injured them also has full access to those medical records. Some defense lawyers will use every piece of negative information they can in an attempt to intimidate the suing party, and this is one I wouldn't like to see in their hands. You might want to suggest to your doctor that they consider revising their questionnaire, for this reason if no other.

By Sandie on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 07:35 pm:

I had this question when I switched doctors, too. I wrote something along the lines of: Yup, I am a sexual person. I have as much sex with my husband as humanly possible. If you havent figured it out, I am a heterosexual woman and I ONLY have sex with my husband. AND LOTS OF IT.
The docotr, nor the nurse everasked about it, althought hey dissected everything else I had written for the medical history.

By Catherin on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 09:14 pm:

ROTF! I'm sorry please forgive me my friend.

My name is Catherin and I am heterosexual *weg*

I don't get it either

By Sunny on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 11:27 pm:

I agree it should have been a verbal question between you and the doctor. It does not need to be documented anywhere what your sexual preference is or how active you are. I would have left the question blank and asked the doctor why it was asked.

By Jann on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 12:04 am:

How sexually active a person is can greatly affect their current and future medical history. Why isn't sexual lifestyle as valid of a question as how much do you drink, do you smoke, do you exercise? All these things have the potential to make an impact on one's health.

By Paige on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 06:52 pm:

Because like Ginny said, on a form, many people see it. It's not the secretaries business if I am sexually active, never mind what my preferences may be. And if a medical condition I have seems similar to those of a std or AIDS, I'd bet that my doctor would broach the subject with me. He's not going to look at a form and say, "Ok. She's not gay, so it can't be AIDS." You can still get that from blood transfusions. You don't have to be gay or bisexual. Granted it happens less often these days, but it still happens. Truly, it's none of their business, I believe. I was offended and shocked to even see it on the form. Now, had my doctor asked me herself...I would have asked her to explain exactly what she meant. And then maybe I would have told her. But on a form where any number of people could see? I don't think so.

By Karen55 on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 08:04 pm:

I just had a thought, I wonder if the reason behind having it in writing on a form is because doctors probably don't remember from patient to patient, unless it's a patient they see regularly and *know*, to some extent? But it would bother me too, if I were filling out a patient info form and that was one of the questions.

By Jann on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 07:58 pm:

I think you are right Karen, how in the world is a doctor supposed to remember every single patient in his practice and ALL their pertinent details?? The information on the health history is for reference not judgement.

By Melissa on Wednesday, April 3, 2002 - 03:02 pm:

Working at a women's health clinic I can say it is a valid question but very poorly worded. They need to know your sexual history with includes your sexual preferences. I have mistakenly asked a exclusivly lesbian woman about birth control before b/c I missed it in the chart. (Doesn't set a good tone.) Practioner's have to be very careful not to assume anything these days and that means don't assume a married woman is only having sex with her dh, that she is having sex at all or that she doesn't also have a female partner. The only way to know and give the best medical care possible is to ask!! Also we have found most people prefer answering questions like this on paper with follow up questions if necessary.