First gynecologist visit

[Anonymous]

When do you take your daughter in for first gynecologist visit/exam? My 13 yo DD’s pediatrician said first pelvic exam by 21, but that seems late to me. Especially considering she is likely to be sexually active before then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When do you take your daughter in for first gynecologist visit/exam? My 13 yo DD’s pediatrician said first pelvic exam by 21, but that seems late to me. Especially considering she is likely to be sexually active before then.

Key event is “sexually active.” But waiting until “that day” may be too late, and could have life-altering consequences beyond just an unwanted teen pregnancy.

Bring her in soon to “just talk.” Make sure your gyn (or one you choose) is good with teens, and can deliver the right messaging on BC, but also:

- condoms. This is crucial for any teen to hear. They need to hear it early, and often.

Nothing else can protect her from disease transmission.

[Anonymous]

I had my first gyno appointment at 16 with our family doctor. It was because I was getting horribly sick every period. I wish my mother or the doctor/nurse prepared me for the exam; it hurt so, so much. Maybe it would have gone better if it had been with a gynecologist rather than our family doctor...but we lived in a small town and there weren't many options. So my advice would please share with your daughter what exactly happens...my mom never talked about sex or anything so I don't think it occurred to her to tell me what would happen in the exam room.

The doctor ended up putting me on birth control pills at 16 even though I was not sexually active. It was the right choice because my periods were then manageable; before I would miss school/events and I even had to leave a SAT test early because of sudden cramps and nausea. I'm thankful for having the option of pills to control my symptoms.

[Anonymous]

My 17yo has been going for a year. First started due to a health concern (diagnosed with PCOS) as well as for BC.

Pelvic exams are not needed at this age unless there are concerns that require them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 17yo has been going for a year. First started due to a health concern (diagnosed with PCOS) as well as for BC.

Pelvic exams are not needed at this age unless there are concerns that require them.

So when are they needed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 17yo has been going for a year. First started due to a health concern (diagnosed with PCOS) as well as for BC.

Pelvic exams are not needed at this age unless there are concerns that require them.

So when are they needed?

Womens NP - not until first pap. Pelvic exam as a screening is a gyn “tradition” that has no evidence to support its use. The big names in women’s health have been saying this for decades and practice is finally catching up. This is not to say they are not important when evaluating symptoms, but please don’t put your daughters or yourself though an invasive exam that is not clinically meaningful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 17yo has been going for a year. First started due to a health concern (diagnosed with PCOS) as well as for BC.

Pelvic exams are not needed at this age unless there are concerns that require them.

So when are they needed?

Womens NP - not until first pap. Pelvic exam as a screening is a gyn “tradition” that has no evidence to support its use. The big names in women’s health have been saying this for decades and practice is finally catching up. This is not to say they are not important when evaluating symptoms, but please don’t put your daughters or yourself though an invasive exam that is not clinically meaningful.

Yes; not needed until later.

But please please! Begin her relationship with a trusted gyn or qualified NP early, so she can have a serious talk about BC, protection, etc.

The school sex-Ed is nowhere near enough. As much as we do our best as parents, some teens will always need to hear it from a doctor before things really sink in.

Good luck OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 17yo has been going for a year. First started due to a health concern (diagnosed with PCOS) as well as for BC.

Pelvic exams are not needed at this age unless there are concerns that require them.

So when are they needed?

Womens NP - not until first pap. Pelvic exam as a screening is a gyn “tradition” that has no evidence to support its use. The big names in women’s health have been saying this for decades and practice is finally catching up. This is not to say they are not important when evaluating symptoms, but please don’t put your daughters or yourself though an invasive exam that is not clinically meaningful.

And when is first pap recommended? That is what I’m getting at

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 17yo has been going for a year. First started due to a health concern (diagnosed with PCOS) as well as for BC.

Pelvic exams are not needed at this age unless there are concerns that require them.

So when are they needed?

Womens NP - not until first pap. Pelvic exam as a screening is a gyn “tradition” that has no evidence to support its use. The big names in women’s health have been saying this for decades and practice is finally catching up. This is not to say they are not important when evaluating symptoms, but please don’t put your daughters or yourself though an invasive exam that is not clinically meaningful.

And when is first pap recommended? That is what I’m getting at

Oh got it- well for a long time it’s been starting at age 21, every 3 years in your twenties and then every 5 starting at age 30 if co-testing done ( pap+ HPV.) But - the next change coming down the pike is starting HPV testing at 25 ( pap earlier but needed) and then just every 5 if normal. The HPV with reflex testing to pap test turns out to be a much better predictor of future problems than the older pap cytology test we all used for so long. That change still in the early adoption stage though. So - quick answer for first pap is somewhere between 21 and 25.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 17yo has been going for a year. First started due to a health concern (diagnosed with PCOS) as well as for BC.

Pelvic exams are not needed at this age unless there are concerns that require them.

So when are they needed?

Womens NP - not until first pap. Pelvic exam as a screening is a gyn “tradition” that has no evidence to support its use. The big names in women’s health have been saying this for decades and practice is finally catching up. This is not to say they are not important when evaluating symptoms, but please don’t put your daughters or yourself though an invasive exam that is not clinically meaningful.

And when is first pap recommended? That is what I’m getting at

Oh got it- well for a long time it’s been starting at age 21, every 3 years in your twenties and then every 5 starting at age 30 if co-testing done ( pap+ HPV.) But - the next change coming down the pike is starting HPV testing at 25 ( pap earlier but needed) and then just every 5 if normal. The HPV with reflex testing to pap test turns out to be a much better predictor of future problems than the older pap cytology test we all used for so long. That change still in the early adoption stage though. So - quick answer for first pap is somewhere between 21 and 25.

^^typo above - pap earlier than 25 NOT needed, can go straight to HPV with reflex testing

[Anonymous]

Womens NP again- but remember the pap and/or HPV test is specific to cervical cancer screening, not all things sexual health. Anyone who is sexually actively should get screened for STIs at least once yearly or more frequently if many new partners, and that is true even if pap years away. That doesn’t need an exam unless they are symptomatic, can be done with blood/urine/swabs

[Anonymous]

I had to go at 16 due to severe cramps/diarrhea/vomiting during my period. They did a transvaginal US! I was SHOCKED!

[Anonymous]

yikes!my roommate and I went to the free clinic in my college town for birth control my first semester at college .

I plan to take my DD the summer before she goes to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had to go at 16 due to severe cramps/diarrhea/vomiting during my period. They did a transvaginal US! I was SHOCKED!

I had to go at about 12 due to crazy heavy periods that lasted 3 weeks on/3 weeks off with debilitating cramps. IIRC they did a full exam. It would have been a year or so too early for a transvaginal US, but the speculum was more than enough fun for me. This was before naproxen/aleve was available OTC and It was a game changer in terms of cramp management. Probably would have benefitted from BC pills to regularize the cycle, but I don’t remember that being discussed or an option, but that could have been parental choice.

As I got older, I heard so many people discuss their dread of gyn visits, but I think being so young the first time really helped remove any mystery/dread before it could ever develop (Obv just speaking for myself only).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:yikes!my roommate and I went to the free clinic in my college town for birth control my first semester at college .

I plan to take my DD the summer before she goes to college.

For sure, but you don’t need a pelvic exam for birth control (unless you’re getting an IUD obviously). For that matter, you don’t need to go to a gynecologist for birth control either.