Healthcare for Teens
It’s an understatement that the teen years are a time of change. Your bodies are undergoing dramatic changes, and you’ve got to consider things that have never before been an issue, like birth control, pregnancy, care for your breasts, sexually transmitted diseases, and more.
Healthy weight gain or loss is also something we hear about from teenage girls. Suddenly, your body’s metabolism shifts, and you’re gaining weight like never before. Since we’re all concerned about body image, and these concerns are amplified during the teen years, it’s vitally important to understand what’s going on and what you can do about it in a healthy way.
When to start seeing us for teenage healthcare
It’s never too soon. For one, we want to make sure that have the HPV (Human papilloma virus) vaccine, which protects against roughly 70% of virus-caused cervical cancers and 90% of virus-caused genital warts. This virus is given as a 3-does series, usually beginning with your 11-12 year exam, but can be done later.
Secondly, if you’re a normal girl between 15-19, you’re becoming sexually active. Of course abstinence is the best way to avoid pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases, but you may have questions about birth control.
If you do become pregnant, or think you’re pregnant, we’ll want to see you immediately to ensure that you’re getting the proper prenatal care.
What we’ll do when we see you
If this is your first time with us, we’ll check your general health, including a blood test, cholesterol, blood pressure, etc. We’ll also talk with you about your eating habits, and if your family has a history of diabetes, we may check to make sure that you’re not at risk.
Weight control is a big issue. How much is too much or too little? How do you get and keep weight off in a healthy way? We’ll discuss these and other similar concerns with you in private (as much privacy as the law allows).
And if you are sexually active, we’ll want to test you for any STD’s to make sure that you and your partner are safe.
Questions about teenage health care?
Please feel free to call us, or scan the following pages to see if your questions are answered there. We look forward to seeing you!