Should a girl see the Gyn. at 13?

Question:

I was having an argument with my mother in-law about my 13 yr old step-daughter, and of course anything I say about our daughter is stupid according to my mother in law because I have only been around for 7 yrs. But anyway, my stepdaughter started her period 2 yrs. ago and her mother never told her anything about it she taught herself everything, now she will be living with us and i think she should start seeing the GYN. but my mother in law claims she should wait until she is 18 now that sounds very wrong to me...I started seeing a GYN after I started my periods at 13...am i wrong or right? I think it would be very stupid to wait since she is already having monthly mensrtal...

Answers:
I think that from an educational standpoint its a good idea. The doctor can teach her how to perform breast self-exams, teach her about proper sexual protection (because like it or not, teens DO become sexually active!!), answer any questions she might have that she's too embarrassed to ask you or someone else and it will also allow her to become accustomed to the medical environment and not feel threatened by it.

PLEASE stress the fact that her visit will be a physical and FAQ/chat session, NOT a pelvic exam (which would freak any girl out at 13), and let her know that if she's having ANY sort of gynecological problems, this is how things work.

Your MIL is a prude and grossly under-educated. Oh, and you can tell her that a recent report in the Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics encourages pubescent visits to the gynecologist for just the reasons I outlined.

The rule about that is...
You should go when you become sexually active..or 18 years old.
So..unless you have a medical issue..going to a Gyn at 13 is alittle unnecessary.

I always thought you go to the gyn when you turn 18 or when you become sexually active (whichever comes first). If there is a medical issue, by all means she should go. Otherwise, why put her through that for nothing? Tell your mother in law to pipe down! :-)

Unless she is having problems with her cycle...or wants to get on a method of birth control/ Is sexually active.there isnt any real reason that she would need to start going to an OB. I would talk to her regular doctor and see about what age, or reasons that she would send her to an OB DR

yeah she should see one at 13. It's better to see a gyno as soon as you start going through puberty because it deals with such a important area of the body. I didn't go to one until i was 16 and that was because of a yeast infection, and i wish i had gone sooner so I would have felt more comfortable that first time.

well anyway...it is alright for a 13 yr old to go see a gyno because it just deals with her health and wellbeing...nothing wrong with that!

There's nothing wrong with a check up. I think she should go.

no way too young!! The rule of thumb is a woman should start seeing a GYN by 18 or when she becomes sexually active--whichever comes first. Sorry, you're wrong this time.

I think that you are wrong. If there is nothing wrong with her period, then she doesn't need to go to the gyn yet. Although she did start her period young, if she is not sexually active and healthy there is no need to go to the gyn before you are 18.

Hope this helped!

All the experts say a girl should go by the time she is 21 or 2 years after she starts having sex (whichever comes first). 13 is way too young unless she is experiencing problems.

Should a girl see the Gyn. at 13?

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