Meeting the Unique Gynecological Needs of Adolescents
For girls, the adolescent years can be difficult. Beginning at about age 10, girls undergo a series of physical, emotional and cognitive changes. Their breasts begin to bud, followed by the beginning of their menstrual cycles in18-24 months. Within a year after a girl has her first menstrual period she should have her first healthy-girl visit with a gynecologist.
These visits can be difficult for young girls, so it’s important to select a physician who understands the unique needs of adolescents and knows that the choices they make now will affect their physical and emotional health in years to come.
Georgia Regents Medical Center offers:
- The largest team of board-certified adolescent medicine physicians in the area. These understanding professionals are trained to address the special needs of adolescents.
- Gentle, educational adolescent gynecological exams
- Gardasil counseling and vaccines, a series of injections that can prevent the human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer
- Solutions for abnormal menstrual bleeding, painful periods and other common problems
- Counseling, screening, diagnosis and care for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
- An opportunity for girls to ask questions about their development and access information
on their physical and psychosocial health, wellness and sexuality
- Monitoring for other conditions, such as acne, body image, eating disorders, drug or alcohol abuse and other disorders
- Quick and easy referrals to other specialists
- An on-site lab and a full range of in-house diagnostic testing
- Medical interpreters for patients who don’t speak English
- Child and Teen Life Specialists (Link to existing page) to help teens understand and cope with care
- All the resources of one of the state’s largest academic medical centers
To schedule an appointment with a physician who understands the unique medical and social needs of adolescent girls, call 706-721-KIDS (5437) or toll free at 888-721-KIDS (5437).