Supporting Our Daughters During Adolescent Changes
By Fred Green, M.D.
The remarkable changes that take place when a girl comes of age are thrilling, frightening, bewildering and challenging—not just in the young woman, but in her parents as well!
The transition between adolescence and adulthood is often among the most overlooked issues in women’s health care. Health care providers must be resources and advocates for adolescent girls by empowering them not with lectures, but with information and support. We need to emphasize and address the issues that surround a young woman’s coming of age in a way that’s non-threatening and frank, so young women don’t rely on misinformation or hearsay to influence their choices.
It’s important for parents to understand that the onset of puberty varies in individuals, and involves more than just menses. A typical progression in the growth and development of adolescent girls—sometimes taking as long as four years—involves the following: growth spurt, breast development, pubic hair growth, and finally, menses. It’s important to remember that it may take a year or two for a teen’s periods to become regular.
Often my patients ask when their teen daughters should be examined by a gynecologist. (See below.) While there’s no absolute age, it’s important for young women to know that there’s a safe place to get answers anytime questions or issues arise. It’s not even necessary to do an exam during her first appointment. An adolescent girl can have honest conversations with a gynecologist during an appointment in private or with her parents present, whichever is most comfortable for her and her family. During the initial appointment, the physician can provide information and support, and give a detailed description of a complete pelvic exam to prepare the young woman for future visits.
The most logical place for mothers to start their daughters with gynecological care is in a place they themselves are comfortable. If you have a good relationship with your own gynecologist, consider having your daughter see the same physician. Recommendations from trusted friends can also be a good way to locate a physician.
Your Adolescent Daughter Should See a Gynecologist if:
The remarkable changes that take place when a girl comes of age are thrilling, frightening, bewildering and challenging—not just in the young woman, but in her parents as well!
The transition between adolescence and adulthood is often among the most overlooked issues in women’s health care. Health care providers must be resources and advocates for adolescent girls by empowering them not with lectures, but with information and support. We need to emphasize and address the issues that surround a young woman’s coming of age in a way that’s non-threatening and frank, so young women don’t rely on misinformation or hearsay to influence their choices.
It’s important for parents to understand that the onset of puberty varies in individuals, and involves more than just menses. A typical progression in the growth and development of adolescent girls—sometimes taking as long as four years—involves the following: growth spurt, breast development, pubic hair growth, and finally, menses. It’s important to remember that it may take a year or two for a teen’s periods to become regular.
Often my patients ask when their teen daughters should be examined by a gynecologist. (See below.) While there’s no absolute age, it’s important for young women to know that there’s a safe place to get answers anytime questions or issues arise. It’s not even necessary to do an exam during her first appointment. An adolescent girl can have honest conversations with a gynecologist during an appointment in private or with her parents present, whichever is most comfortable for her and her family. During the initial appointment, the physician can provide information and support, and give a detailed description of a complete pelvic exam to prepare the young woman for future visits.
The most logical place for mothers to start their daughters with gynecological care is in a place they themselves are comfortable. If you have a good relationship with your own gynecologist, consider having your daughter see the same physician. Recommendations from trusted friends can also be a good way to locate a physician.
Your Adolescent Daughter Should See a Gynecologist if:
- She becomes sexually active.
- She enters puberty before age 8.
- She starts menstruating before age 10.
- She has no breast development by age 15.
- She has no menstruation by age 16.
- She has irregular periods for more than two years after onset of menses.
- She has pain before or after a period, or debilitating pain with periods.
