Have you ever really heard a doctor say this?

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Specializes in Public Health, L&D, NICU.

My current job involves a lot of contact with people experiencing unplanned pregnancies. I hear this one particular confusing statement all the time:

"My doctor told me I couldn't have kids."

Now, really, after working 15 years in L&D and maternal child, I cannot imagine a doctor ever telling a woman with a uterus and at least one ovary that they would never get pregnant. I can imagine them saying "you might have some difficulty getting pregnant" but never, ever getting pregnant? Can't see it.

Are these women just hearing what they want to hear? (Whooo hooo!! No birth control for me!)

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Specializes in Nurse Manager, Labor and Delivery.

AHHHH. There are so many days lately that I want to hear what I want to hear. You won a bazillion dollars!!! Here, have this all expense paid trip to Tahiti!! Oh, hey, let me clean your house for free.....:roflmao:

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Specializes in Public Health, L&D, NICU.
AHHHH. There are so many days lately that I want to hear what I want to hear. You won a bazillion dollars!!! Here, have this all expense paid trip to Tahiti!! Oh, hey, let me clean your house for free.....:roflmao:

I'd love to hear any of those things, too. Unfortunately, I haven't heard any of them yet. Although I was told that a Nigerian prince wanted to send me money....

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perhaps they are confusing couldn't with shouldn't?

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Specializes in CMSRN.

Having dealt with infertility, I can't imagine that's something doctors say regularly. Really, the only time I could see it being the case would be after extensive testing that concluded a patient was anovulatory, in menopause, or maybe a patient that had previously undergone chemo/radiation. Otherwise, I'm thinking the word denial might be part of their vocabulary...

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Specializes in Public Health, Women's Health.

I get that a lot too, I never really thought about it though. Just "okay, right" in my head.

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Specializes in Public Health, L&D, NICU.
Having dealt with infertility, I can't imagine that's something doctors say regularly. Really, the only time I could see it being the case would be after extensive testing that concluded a patient was anovulatory, in menopause, or maybe a patient that had previously undergone chemo/radiation. Otherwise, I'm thinking the word denial might be part of their vocabulary...

I should have added that I was also an infertility patient for years, and I heard about some absolutely miraculous conceptions (though none by virgins;)). Conception is such a mysterious thing in some ways, I cannot imagine a doctor declaring that it would never happen provided the requisite equipment was there.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

I have never heard an OB say that, but I have had a patient or two say that. They were older women, closer to menopause with surprise unplanned pregnancies.

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Specializes in L&D.

My SIL was told it would be VERY VERY rare for her to be able to get pregnant....she has undersized ovaries, and just a lot of things going on...And lo and behold, she DID! So I would say most probably say it's unlikely and the woman takes that to mean, won't ever.

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Specializes in Emergency.

I had a doctor say that to me, funnily enough I already had a child O.o

He was not an OB, had asked me 3 questions and had not physically assessed me (or read my chart since my G/P status was on it). I also had not asked for his opinion on the subject and it was not the reason for my visit. Let's just say that was a one-off visit and I now see a doc who got his license from medical school and not a cracker-jack box.

So yes, there are physicians who are imprudent and arrogant enough to say this to a woman.

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Specializes in Psych, Skilled Nursing.
perhaps they are confusing couldn't with shouldn't?

Hahah!!! This could be possible...

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I should have added that I was also an infertility patient for years, and I heard about some absolutely miraculous conceptions (though none by virgins;)). Conception is such a mysterious thing in some ways, I cannot imagine a doctor declaring that it would never happen provided the requisite equipment was there.

Another infertility patient here too. I've never been told flat out I couldn't get pregnant but, I've been told I may never get pregnant without assistance. I have heard women say in infertility forums that their Dr have told them they'll never get pregnant.

When I was in ob clinicals I was at an obgyns office and a teenage mother came in for her post baby 6 weeks check up and she was pregnant again. She was screaming at the Dr that she was going to sue him because she was pregnant again. She said the Dr told her she couldn't get pregnant again so soon. The Dr was hilarious he told her, I'm not the one that got you in this situation, I don't know how it must have happened, I haven't even cleared you for sex yet! Lol.

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