As I read VeniceIt's thread, I remembered what happened to me a few years ago.
I worked for Lucent Tech in Wichita, Kansas. I reported to a young man (about 22) who had just gotten out of college and just got married. I am a "little" older...
Being female and on birth control requires at least one yearly visit to get pills. The docs will not prescribe oral contraceptives without a pap smear. (I hope all you gentlemen know what that is)
My visit finally came. Again, being a woman, you need to make your appointment 5-8 months in advance. Ob/Gynos are really booked up.
I approached my manager (Young Rick, YR for short) and advised that I had a doctor appointment the next day, so I would have to be gone for about 2 hours. I of course would make up my hours and would call if I would be gone longer.
YR looked confused. "Why do you need to be gone for about 2 hours?"
"Well, I have to drive there (about 15 minutes each way) and wait for the doc."
YR-"Can't you make a new appointment, you know we are kinda backed up?"
"No, it took 6 months to get my appointment. If I cancel, I will have to wait....for a long time."
Again the confused look. YR-"Why?"
"I am going to the gyno...it takes awhile to get an appointment and wait for the doc."
He looked like a deer in headlights.
Since he was being so naive, I decided to let him know exactly why I was going.
"Rick, I need a pap smear...I have to get that done so I can get birth control pills....if I don't get my pills, I might get pregnant...that will really cause a long term backlog, since no one is trained to back me up.
You know, there is nothing worse than being butt naked, laying on your back, with your feet in stirrups. Having a doctor insert that cold metal thing that spreads you apart is not fun. You should ask your wife about it."
Rick turned white, than red. In the meantime, every co-worker within hearing distance, stopped working and stood up to listen.
Everyone looked shocked. (They were all from Kansas. I am from Chicago.)
Moral of the story.....if you ask why someone has to go to the doctor, be prepared for the answer.
Oh yeah, one other thing...ask your questions in a conference room or private area, not the open cubicle arrangement.
Rick learned that if he ever questioned where I was going I would give the most explicit answer. I discovered that most men are totally unprepared to handle the answer.
Watching him squirm was priceless!