MMR booster during menstrual period?

sunnybrook83 · Jun 20, 2005

Hello!
I will begin my clinicals this fall (yay!), and am in the process of having my medical forms completed. It appears that I am not immune to Rubella or Mumps even though I've had 2 MMR's as a child. At this time the Dr's office says they will give me another MMR, however it has to be done during my next menstrual period. This period will fall AFTER the due date at which my medical forms are due back to the school, July 1. I can't figure out why it needs to be done during a period, and I have never heard of this, nor have I found anyplace online that verifies the fact.
Can any of you offer any facts on this?
Thanks!
Sara

I doesn't have to be given during your period, they probably just want to be sure you are not pregnant, and this is their way of covering themselves without having to do a pregnancy test on you. Good luck in clinicals.

Sue7573 · Jun 20, 2005

I doesn't have to be given during your period, they probably just want to be sure you are not pregnant, and this is their way of covering themselves without having to do a pregnancy test on you. Good luck in clinicals.

OH now that is just hateful for a Dr's Office to do someone like that. Heck if they didn't want to do a pregnancy test there they could have at least told you so that you could get one done. I have to have all my shot records in by Aug. 5th. So I understand the stress there. could you go to another Dr?

Sue

gchickie · Jun 20, 2005

So THAT's why? That IS hateful. I mean seriously, I was just there on June 2nd, for my pap, and I've been on birth control prescribed by THEIR office since I was 16...and I'm now 32 yrs old!

They've screwed this up one side & down the other. At first, they had titers taken for Rubella, found I wasn't immune & told me one week PRIOR to my last period a few weeks ago that if & when they found the vaccine, they could only give it during my period. So, I was sure to advise them that my period would begin within 5 days, and that NOW is the time, if they need to schedule the shot. They screwed around, waiting on bloodwork for measles & mumps, and here we are...I've called them almost daily for the past 2 weeks. Yeah, I'm livid, to say the least. Now I am even more po'd knowing WHY!!!

Stitchie · Jun 20, 2005

Can you go to your regular doc and have the whole thing done? That way it's part of your regular medical records.

gchickie · Jun 20, 2005

Sadly enough, this IS my regular doctor...been with them for almost 30 years...

Jolie, BSN · Jun 20, 2005

I don't understand why 2 previous posters think it is "hateful" for a doctor and his staff to protect themselves legally, and their patient from potential harm, by insisting that a teratogenic vaccine be given during one's menstrual period. Having a negative pregnancy test prior to administering the vaccine is not of much use if the recipient is in the first half of her cycle and then becomes pregnant immediately after the vaccine is given, thus exposing her developing embryo to potential harm.

I am sure that a note from your doctor stating that a vaccine is scheduled as soon as is appropriate and safe will temporarily satisfy your school's requirement. If not, then you may have to miss some clinical time. Did you not know when you registered for classes last spring that you rubella status would have to be verified? If so, why did you wait until summer to schedule an appointment? This is not your doctor's fault. One lesson that you will learn very quickly in nursing clinicals is that YOU are responsible for yur own actions, omissions, oversights and delays, not anyone else!

gchickie · Jun 20, 2005

I have no problem holding myself responsible for items which I know I am responsible for. However, when I called in April and made the Dr's appointment, I specifically told them I needed this form filled out, and made sure to ask if there was enough time for any and all shots, tests, etc to be done by my July 1 deadline & was assured there was. My form is specifically noted that it may not be filled out before May 31st, so I made my appointment for June 2nd. This is routine at a Dr's office, right? They fill out this sort of form all the time for kids & students. They should be aware of the kinds of things that are asked, and perhaps ought to look at my files upon hearing this will be necessary. Or, they should ask for the paper to be dropped off? Just my thoughts.

As I said, they were given full notice as to what needed done if I was not immune to Rubella, and if they took the time to read my form, they would have known on June 2nd that an MMR was needed. Yeah, I've learned my lesson. And, I think it's time to find another Dr. Guess I could also mention that when I went for my appt on June 2nd, I and 2 other cars behind me went to their office to find that they'd moved & neglected to contact their patients!

Stitchie · Jun 20, 2005

Sadly enough, this IS my regular doctor...been with them for almost 30 years...

Sorry, missed that part of your post.

Can you ask your doctor to perform a blood test to measure levels of hCG in your system? (A quanitative blood test) That is the end-all, be-all, last word on pregnancy tests.

It is more reliable than a qualitative (yes/no) urine test. It will measure exactly how much of the pregnancy hormone is circulating in your system. It should not take longer than 24 hours to get the test result back.

Heck, the doc could even send you to the hospital for stat blood work (pain in the tushie, though) and you can have the results in a couple of hours, and have the vaccine administered the same day.

The MMR vaccine administered to a pregnant woman can have dire consequences, so it wise for both of you to be very careful.

If it is below 5, you are not pregnant. If it is below 20, it is unequivocal (meaning too high to be negative, too low to be definitively pregnant). Barring ultrasound and seeing a fetal sac, fetal heartbeat, etc., it is the only way to scientifically determine if you are indeed pregnant.

Sadly, I know wwaayy to much about this, thanks to 5 years of excrutiating infertility treatments.

You can get a period and still be pregnant (but it will be v. different than your usual period). You can miss a period and not be pregnant (because of the stress of starting school).

The blood test is the most sensitive screen.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2005

It dosent, I just had mine Friday.

KRVRN, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2005

Maybe you could lie? You know the reason they're concerned about it, so as long as you know you aren't pregnant... it's just a thought. Also, are you on the pill? You could stop taking it a week early and your period will come a week early. I'm just throwing out options here...

gchickie · Jun 20, 2005

I thought about lying, but I'd already made it clear to them that I had it & it ended last Monday...oops...now that I know the reason, that would have been a great way around this. But, since I am on birth control, you're right, I could just tell them I'm going to stop them in order to get my period for the shot. Excellent suggestion.

You guys are the best. I've been stressed over this for a couple weeks now...should have known to come here for advice first! I'm so excited to begin clinicals, and will be changing careers after 11 years, and turning my whole life around, so I was just really irked over the fact that the Dr's office

seemed so blase about it.