Women ages 18-40: I have a question for you!

I'm a clinical researcher and am about to hire someone for a study.  This study is for women between the ages of 18 and 40 who smoke, and it's investigating the role of the menstrual cycle on short-term nicotine withdrawal.  

IF you were a woman in my study, how comfortable (or uncomfortable) would you be in telling a man about your menstrual cycle?  We ask things like:  when was your last period?  how long did it last?  did you have any clots when you bled?  did you feel bloated?   did you have mood swings?  We also ask very sensitive things about other aspects of life (depression, violence at home, smoking behavior, drug use).  Plus this person will be alone in the clinic with the study participants at times.  

I'm basically wondering if you had a man asking you these questions would you be as blunt with your answers as you would be if a woman was asking them?  Would a man in this role deter you from being in the study?

(Sorry for my 'abuse' of CC forums - I just know people like to chat about all kinds of things in here!)

If I signed up for the study... I would most definately be open, honest, and blunt.    I am a smoker and would be very curious about this study!!!   

If you asked me out of the blue however... I'd tell you to shove it.   HA HA  

Signing up for a study should mean a person would be honest.

Thanks for your input!  We'd certainly hope they'd be honest, but it amazes me how shy women are with the details of their menstrual cycle.  We say to them over and over again, 'call us on the first day of your period and state such on the voicemail,'  then we get messages like 'umm i was told to call you umm for that one reason.'  So, I think if they know now that only two women are hearing the message, what kind of message will they leave if they know a man will hear it?!

well i'm sad to say that i am just outside the upper age range but as a female smoker who always asks for a male doctor when i need a doctor i would have no problem what so ever.

I am a little older than your study, but I have a problem with leaving messages on machines.  I never know who is going to hear my message.  I usually just say call me back.

Talking in person is another thing altogether.  If you ask me point blank, I have no problem.  If I have an appointment about something specific I usually bring a list of questions because I will forget to ask something.

Maybe if you had a list of questions at hand for them to answer you would get more information.  Talking to a machine about auntie flow just seems wrong.

Am I talking to a Doc or just some male research student?  I'd be more comfortable talking to a doctor, or a person who appeared to be a doctor.

Thanks ladies :)

It's a complicated study that requires filling out a lot of paperwork, discussing the details with the staff and taking biological measures.  We need them to leave messages on a machine because we're not in the office on the weekends, but come in if someone starts their period or ovulates so it's very important they state that happen.  Anyway, the people the study subjects deal with are research assitants - not students or doctors, but they are professionals.

So, I think the bottom line is that it would be ok as long as it's someone that is known to be a professional and asking for the details for a legit purpose.

I'd be happy to volunteer, I'm 23 and I smoke. I dont have a problem answering any of those questions, as long as I can remain anonymous.

Oh it's not something we can do online.  It's a lab based study and the lab is in Minneapolis, MN.  So, unless you're willing and able to come into our lab, I can't use your info.  (Although, trust me, I totally wish we could - it would make my life so much easier!!)

honestly...if i were to sign up it wouldn't be prob.  i dont think it matters whether you have a male or female asking the questions, some people are just shy talking about their "personal/private" issues.

I'm 24, and personally, I wouldn't feel comfortable telling a man anything about my cycle except for my boyfriend or my dad.  I would, however, feel comfortable talking about those things with a woman even if she was a stranger.

I'm 24 and I wouldn't really have any problems with it. It'd be a little awkward, I'm sure. I'd never had a male doctor until I moved to Korea and even though I feel uncomfortable with him sometimes it's not that bad. 

edit: Not a smoker

I'd have no problems answering those questions, but I wouldn't feel comfortable asking any questions I may have about my own to a male doctor.

Edit: I'm 24, not a smoker though.

I am at the upper end of the study, I do not smoke, but if in the study I would tell all. I have no inhibitions when it comes to science. Are you paying the subjects? I can see some women however not being totally honest due to embarrassment. It all depends on how the bedside manner of the interviewer is. I mean some male doctors are a$$holes and I am not comfortable with and others (like my current gyn) are wonderful with their female patients. I think if women being paid as opposed to not being paid also has an impact on the results.