How long to see a pediatrician?

[Anonymous]

When should children meet alone with the pediatrician? When should girls have their first visit with a gynecologist? I grew up in a family where healthcare was not prioritized and I want to get this right for my own children as they approach the teenage years. TIA!

[Anonymous]

Kids can see the pediatrician until 21. Gynecologist at 18 or when sexually active or if problems arise with the menstrual cycle, whichever comes first.

Usually we kick parents out at the end of an annual starting in high school to allow for confidential chat. Some families aren’t comfortable with it even then and others ask us to do it sooner.

[Anonymous]

We plan to switch at age 18.

[Anonymous]

DD first saw gyn at 15. She has really heavy, painful periods so went to start on BC pills.

She's 17 and DS is 19 and still see pediatrician. Our practice generally sees teens until they finish college, if you'd like. However, our long-time primary doctor recently retired so might be time to switch to our internist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD first saw gyn at 15. She has really heavy, painful periods so went to start on BC pills.

She's 17 and DS is 19 and still see pediatrician. Our practice generally sees teens until they finish college, if you'd like. However, our long-time primary doctor recently retired so might be time to switch to our internist.

And the meeting alone with Dr started at 13

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When should children meet alone with the pediatrician? When should girls have their first visit with a gynecologist? I grew up in a family where healthcare was not prioritized and I want to get this right for my own children as they approach the teenage years. TIA!

Around 13 our pediatrician asked my sons if they wanted me, mom, in the room...

I now stay for the beginning of the appointment and then excuse myself out.

I'd say wait until 15 for the Gynecologist but check with your pediatrician first.

[Anonymous]

After having a doctor demand a breast exam when I came in for something different my kids will never be alome in a room.

[Anonymous]

Our pediatrician never asked to see them alone. I always asked my kids if they wanted me to come in or stay in the waiting room, and they always said to come in with them.

We loved our pediatrician.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our pediatrician never asked to see them alone. I always asked my kids if they wanted me to come in or stay in the waiting room, and they always said to come in with them.

We loved our pediatrician.

It really should be the pediatrician asking the teen though, because many teens find it too difficult to say no to Mom.

[Anonymous]

We switched to a general practitioner when they entered kindergarten. Our entire family sees the same doctor. DS started having a small part of the exam by himself at around 12. By 14 I was in there wait room for most of it. DD is in middle school and I’m in the room for the entire thing. She hasn’t gone to a gynecologist yet.

[Anonymous]

At 13, mom wants outside. At 14 or 15, we switched from the pediat=icon (compete with Disney and sesame Street pics painted on the walls) to the Teen and Young Adult Care Center at this practice:

https://www.theteenandyoungadultcarecenter.com/

VERY happy at this practice, with everything from visits (which both kids drive themselves to at this point), to availability of emergency appointments to my ability to speak to a nurse to my ability to get a message to the doc to please be sure to talk to my child about xxx when they come in next week.

[Anonymous]

We quit the pediatrician at 4 in favor of a family practice. DC still wants me in the room at the appointments, I will do that until they request that I not be.

[Anonymous]

My DD's pediatrician recommended seeing a GYN either 1 year after starting her period or at age 16.

The Ped's office started kicking a parent out when the kid was 10 to speak in private with the doctor. There was always a same-sex nurse present during that time.

Their office will allow visits until age 21. My college kids all switched at 18.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our pediatrician never asked to see them alone. I always asked my kids if they wanted me to come in or stay in the waiting room, and they always said to come in with them.

We loved our pediatrician.

It really should be the pediatrician asking the teen though, because many teens find it too difficult to say no to Mom.

Right, Pediatricians don't ask to see teens alone. They ask the teen if they want mom/dad in with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When should children meet alone with the pediatrician? When should girls have their first visit with a gynecologist? I grew up in a family where healthcare was not prioritized and I want to get this right for my own children as they approach the teenage years. TIA!

Around 14 I asked my kids if they wanted to go back by themselves. Neither did then, but at 15 they went alone. As for how long to go to the pediatrician, I switched my son from the pediatrician after his 18th year check-up, wanted to switch my daughter at 15, but she wanted to continue going to the pediatrician.

For gynecologist, I plan to take my daughter as soon as she wants to start birth control, or before going to college.

P.S. I wouldn't worry so much about getting it "right", since there really is no set rule on all of this. A lot is child-dependent.