Center for Gynecology & Women’s Health
A gentle, informed entry into womanhood provides the best kind of transition to adulthood and introduction to the questions,
concerns, issues, and joys of physical maturation for girls entering, or young women in, their teen years. Our knowledgeable staff provides gynecologic education, counseling, and testing for adolescents, to screen their health, help
them develop safe and healthful habits, and give them the awareness needed to confront the risks and challenges of young women
in their age group.
Teens may often simply want confirmation of what is normal and what is to be expected in topics such as their maturing bodies,
their feelings, and their choices. In addition, prevention is our objective in guiding young people on healthcare questions that involve risk.
We believe that a young woman’s first visits to a gynecology practice should be a positive experience. For this reason, we conduct appointments in a sensitive, caring, and age-appropriate manner. We make special effort to explain all aspects of care and all procedures, and we encourage patients and their families to
ask questions. Examinations are adjusted for prepubertal anatomy and physiology, and delivered in a reassuring, nonthreatening way, without
discomfort.
Providing confidentiality and gaining trust goes a long way toward successful interactions and care with teens. Common areas where we can help to put the adolescent in a position to make positive health decisions include:
• drug or alcohol use;
• sexually transmitted diseases;
• contraception, including emergency contraception;
• depression or mood disorders , suicide, anxiety disorders, and other teen, mental health issues;
• domestic violence (sexual, physical, or other types of abuse);
• and obesity, diet, and exercise.
Ours is a wellness-oriented perspective, with a goal of involving parents as fully as possible or appropriate, relative to
the concern or the condition, the age of the adolescent, and other factors. We can alert teens to available hotlines, services, and resources for both them and their friends. Our objective in any adolescent care is to empower young people to exhibit responsible behavior and make responsible choices.
We also have the option of referral to a full spectrum of pediatric specialists as necessary. And as needed, adolescents may, of course, benefit from the complete range of care available to adult patients as well.
