When should I bring my daughter to the gynecologist?
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends having an “initial reproductive health visit” with a gynecologist between the ages of 13 and 15.
What happens at this visit?
This initial visit is designed to be a preventative care visit. It serves as an opportunity for young women to establish a relationship with a gynecologist. It allows the doctor to screen young women for high-risk behaviors and to educate them about age and experience appropriate topics. This visit is a good time to discuss and initiate HPV vaccination if you haven’t done so already.
Will there be a pelvic exam?
No. The gynecologist is explicitly discouraged from doing a routine screening pelvic exam at this visit. A pelvic exam would only be indicated if the medical history revealed certain physical complaints or a high-risk sexual history.
When should a woman have a pelvic exam?
A woman should have her first pap smear (cervical cancer screening) at the age of 21 or 3 years after the onset of sexual activity, whichever comes first. We recommend yearly STD screening for all sexually active women under the age of 25.
by: Ashlyn Savage, M.D.
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