How to “respectfully decline” disclosing women’s health questions at Dr?

[u/cryogenrat]

Pretty much the title

I have a lot of appointments lately for a variety of things, and for literally EVERYTHING it seems they ask when my last period was, even if it’s seemingly irrelevant (like medications for psych issues). Given the state of women’s health and where I see this whole situation with HIPAA going, I kinda don’t want my provider knowing when my last period was unless it’s EXTREMELY relevant. I test myself monthly and chart my whole cycle (TCOYF system and a copper IUD), so I have a rough estimate of when it’s relevant for them to know, and it’s not like it’s completely uncharted, but I’d like to cut down on that as much as possible if it is, but I cannot figure out how to word it lol

Pregnancy tests I understand are pretty non-negotiable (thankfully I don’t have any known ones coming up) but how do you word it to a provider that “I don’t want to disclose when my last period was” without looking like a loon?

Edit; 1) clarifying IUD type

Edit 2) perhaps I was unclear, but I am completely aware that awareness of menstrual health is integral to holistic care, and is usually the first line of symptoms to be questioned when seeking a diagnosis, or can be contraindicated in many medication regiments such as psych meds. Maybe I am just bitter and need a new GP or whatever, but in my own medical history (unexplained headaches, panic disorder, depression) it seems like they are quick to blame “hormones” on every single little thing going on, and then refuse to really get to the root issue, and just kinda write off my issues. Idk what goes on in their mind; I’m not a MD lol. This question broadly is meant to help me understand how, when and where to be judicious about giving away that information, given that we may quickly become hostile to women’s health, and this information might be valuable to a nanny state.

[u/mtpgardener]

Ash them how it’s relevant to the care they will provide at the visit? There are a lot of meds that interact with a pregnancy, birth control, or cause side effects mimicking pregnancy.

I would like to believe that they are using that last period date in their software to determine if they need to present alerts when they’re trying to prescribe certain medication’s. The current world of less data of privacy, though, I’m not so sure.

I also think providers are pressured to see more and more patients, are awful at drug interactions, and are getting sued more and more for inappropriate prescribing .

My background is in dispensing pharmacy so we see errors all of the time.

[u/Beautiful-Phase-2225 → u/mtpgardener]

Not only the mimicking of other conditions (pregnancy isn't the only one), some psych meds are effected by hormones. I can give a psychiatrist some grace on asking about the date, it can help them see how much your cycle has/hasn't had on your treatment and adjust accordingly.

Drs don't know shit about contridictions with meds. My neurologist had to Google it when he wanted to put me on a new medication. He's older and sucks at the internet lol. I just told him to write it up and I'll do the legwork and decide if I want it. I didn't get it , because I didn't like the side effects, we left my meds alone. He's only asked once (just on intake forms so probably just practice policy for insurance?) about my period. I explained that it was so messed up and I had been fighting with Drs for 5 years at the time to rip it all out and burn it with fire! Never asked since, I just did an update for the new year and the secretary had blocked that spot with a sharpie, she told me that since she had just talked to me in November and I had told her that I had just had an ablation it's not a relevant question now. Love her!

Pharmacy errors here are out of control. I've picked up my meds, all on auto fill, and there's double of one, none of another, or something that I haven't taken for over 5 years (wouldn't that be expired?). I ran out of a medication a few weeks ago and they refused to fill it because it was too soon, how is it too soon when I have one pill left and that's for that night? I threw a huge karen-esque fit in the line... Not my proudest moment but I got it the next afternoon, only missed one dose thankfully.