too young for gyno

Jennifer - posted on 02/24/2010

I agree Sharon. I thought it meant as in a gynae examination not just going for birth control or when you start your periods...I never randomly went to see my doctor nevermind a gynae about starting my periods.

Carolee - posted on 02/23/2010

I heard that you should start going after your first period, which means I should have gone when I was 9. I didn't go until I was 15 or 16, when my mom found out that I was having sex. I plan on taking my daughter after her first period, whenever that might be.

Meghan - posted on 02/23/2010

I want for the first time when I started my period at 13 almost 14...I think that is a good age because you are going through all of these changes and if you want to know about stuff...you ask your parents or if your to embarrassed go to the Dr. I think it might just depend on the girl in question.

Sharon - posted on 02/23/2010

I was never comfortable with the lack of details in the original post and now it seems everyone has taken it a different way. This is a crap thread.

Charlene Quote: FYI Amy, if the show that you were talking about was The Doctors, they DID NOT say that a girl should start getting paps at 9. Dr. Lisa said that girls should start meeting with Gynos at 9, not for exams, but to be educated in STD's and the consequences of unprotected sex.
The whole show was about how many teens are sexually active and how many of them don't understand how dangerous it is to have unprotected sex. No where in there did they say that girls had to get exams before they were sexually active. :end quote

If that is truely the show I'll be a bit angry and disappointed the idea of the show and message of the doctors was SO miscontrued by the OP.

Jennifer - posted on 02/23/2010

I'm confused now...is the post referring to an actual examination like a smear test or just getting contraceptives?

Rose - posted on 02/23/2010

My first time when was when i was 15 cause i wanted birth control cause i was sexually active. Yes i know i was young but at least i took action to prevent a pregnancy and other problems. I think a good age is 16 weather your sexually active or not. Your daughter may have questions she might not be comfortable asking you and what better place to ask them questions. My sister went when she was 14 cause she had problems with her periods. I think 9 is way to young. Can't a regular doctor treat a yeast infection?

Jennifer - posted on 02/23/2010

Well I havn't had a smear test yet and won't until I'm 25 years old!!! I'm 19 years old now and in the UK they've decided that women shouldn't have them until they're 25 years old. Stupid I think as more and more girls my age are being diagnosed with cancer. 9 years old is way too young...I didn't learn about periods until I was 11 years old in year 6 and I didn't have my first period until I was 13 years old!!! 9 year olds aren't sexually active so there's no need for a gynecological examination plus her hymen would be intact...

Jessica - posted on 02/22/2010

I went in for my first visit after I got my first period, I was....11 or 12 I think. My sister had some health issues with her period so my mom wanted to be safe, not sorry. I think I went once every year after that just to make sure all was good. So much can go wrong for us ladies, always good to be safe. As for the age of 9, I think it really depends on each individual girl.

Charlene - posted on 02/22/2010

FYI Amy, if the show that you were talking about was The Doctors, they DID NOT say that a girl should start getting paps at 9. Dr. Lisa said that girls should start meeting with Gynos at 9, not for exams, but to be educated in STD's and the consequences of unprotected sex.

The whole show was about how many teens are sexually active and how many of them don't understand how dangerous it is to have unprotected sex. No where in there did they say that girls had to get exams before they were sexually active.



Annnnd.. if it wasn't the Doctors you were referring to.. Never mind. :P

Holly - posted on 02/22/2010

My gynocologist would not do an exam (and pap of course) until I had lost my virginity (I was 20 when that event finally happened - I remember I called his office the next day and made my exam appointment, I think they knew before my mom did...). He said it was just pointless to do it before I was sexually active. He did, however, prescribe birth control pills for me at my first appointment (when I was 18) and renewed my precription for 2 years until my first physical exam. I did not have any family history of problems or any problems with the birth control though, so I guess there really was no real reason for me to get the exam before I was sexually active...

Krista - posted on 02/22/2010

Hee hee...you said "subside my craps" instead of "subside my cramps", Joy.

And yeah, I had my first pap at 16, as I had a serious boyfriend, so my mom figured it was time for me to go on the pill.

JL - posted on 02/22/2010

I think it is too young at 9 if the child is healthy. They do not need regular vaginal checkup but if they are having sex or problems like reoccuring yeast infections, itching, swelling, burning, discharge, cysts or something then PLEASE take your child to the vajayjay expert, that is not an invasion of her privacy but the establishment of maintaining her health. There a vajayjay experts for a reason.

If my kid had reoccuring ear, nose or throat issues I would insist on an ear, nose and throat doctor. If they had heart problems I would want a cardiologist so if she is having vajayjay problems then we are off to the gyno.

I started seeing a gyno and getting paps when I was 16. I had delibitating menstrual craps and wanted birth control to regulate my period and subside my craps. In order to get on birth control in the US you do have to have an exam with the gyno and take a pregancy test.

Sharon - posted on 02/22/2010

If you're having heart issues @ 8 yrs of age are you to young to see a cardiac specialist?



If you're having brain issues @ 5 yrs of age are you to young to see a neurologist?



Its not to young if its necessary. I didn't read the article so I can't comment on the routine aspect of it.

Shelby - posted on 02/22/2010

I'm kinda on the fence here. I'm thinking that personally I'm leaning more towards starting my daughter's testing/screening once she starts her cycles. I don't see it as an invasion per say at 9, Extremely uncomfortable, yes, confusing, yes...but done by a doctor, certainly not an invasion. I would have to know the whole story..Maybe there is a family history there of cysts, or cancer...It could be anything. Cysts develop during menstruation in all of us, but if there is a medical history these "cysts" may not go away on there own and cause serious problems (trust me on this one, I lost an ovary due to this) Also, from a very young age I was prone to cysts anyway and was at the cancer center for frequent visits to make sure they ruptured on their own...So maybe there is something along these lines happening to her. I have a friend who's daughter's cycle started at age 9, Quite more common now, more so than before.

Sarah - posted on 02/22/2010

That's a good point Gillian!
I really can't see the point in doing a smear so young to be honest. (unless there's a reason of course)
:)

Lady - posted on 02/22/2010

I'm 33 and going to se a gyno for the first time in my life next month to see about getting my tubes tied. I've been having smeer tests since I was 17 - it's recomended every four years in the UK from two years after you first become sexually active. I have a 9 year old daughter and can't imagine ever letting anyone poke around at her bits unless it was completly neccesary. I don't really know how it would be possable to do a smeer test on such a young girl - surely her hymen would get in the way!

Melissa - posted on 02/22/2010

I would say there must be reason she is going. I always thought once you start menstruating you should go for regular check ups, So maybe at that young age she has started, so no i dont think its young at all.

Sarah - posted on 02/22/2010

Hahahaha! Yeah no basements......some more upper class people have cellars though!!

Not sure how often we get smear tests here.....should probably check that i'm not due one! :)

Sara - posted on 02/22/2010

In the US, Sarah, birth control pills and some other contraceptives can only be obtained by prescription. It is also recommended by the AMA (American Medical Association) that a woman have an annual pap smear to check for cervical cancer. So, most of us go to the gyno every year and have a pap so that we can get our birth control prescription renewed. Every doctor I have ever been to has required it.



I did not know that about the UK! Just last week I learned you guys don't really have basements either! Huh... :)

Sarah - posted on 02/22/2010

I think things must be a little different here in the UK. I've never been to a gyno, i had a smear test when i was about 20 i think, done at the GP's by a nurse.

If there are problems, then i would take my daughters to the doctors and would have no problem in them being examined. If there weren't any problems, then i don't see any need for it at 9 to be honest.

How come some of you had to be examined to get the contraceptive pill? I went on the pill at 15 and all the did was weight and height and blood pressure! :)

Teresa - posted on 02/22/2010

I had my first exam at 23. I see no reason why a 9 year old would need one under normal circumstances. Most peds should be able to deal w/ whatever vagina issues a child may have, but for serious and/or repeat issues.... sure. Otherwise there should be no need until they are 18 or sexually active, whichever comes first.

If your 9 year old is sexually active then there are much more serious issues to deal w/ than rather or not they should see a gyno.....

Krista - posted on 02/22/2010

Nine years old seems a little young for a pap if there have been no indications of any gynecological problems, but I wouldn't discount it out of hand, either. It'd be something that I'd discuss with her doctor in depth before making a decision. And of course, like the others said, if there IS a gynecological problem, then there is no such thing as "too young for the gyno".

Rosie - posted on 02/22/2010

i believe taking your child to the gyno for regular visits should start when they become sexually active, whatever age that may be. if a young child has issues down there, than by all means take them to the gyno, there's no reason not to. but i am pretty sure (at least with my insurance) that you have to see the regular ped. first to get a referral to go somewhere else. i only have boys so i guess i'll never know about having to take a child to the gyno. thank god! :)

Sara - posted on 02/22/2010

Well, they aren't pleasant! But if you're old enough to have sex, you're old enough for a gyno exam.

Megan - posted on 02/22/2010

I got my first pap at 16 but that was because i was sexually active and i wanted birth control. And to be honest i still felt violated and uncomfortable

C. - posted on 02/22/2010

Yes it's a medical exam, but if it's not a NEEDED medical exam, then I would definitely consider that an invasion of her body.

Sara - posted on 02/22/2010

I didn't go until I was 18 either, but if a young girl is having a problem with her vagina, then I think a gyno is completely appropriate. I also think that if you think you're child is sexually active then they need to get a gynocological exam, whether that be when they are 12, 16 or 18. Regular gynecological exams at 9 for a healthy child might be pushing it a little, but I also don't know any doctor that would recommend that. But I don't view it as an invasion of privacy either, like someone else said, it's a medical exam.

Brittney - posted on 02/22/2010

I went at 17 because I was sexualy active and wanted the pill.

C. - posted on 02/22/2010

When I had my first pap I was 19 and pregnant with my son. The doctor asked if I had ever had one before and I told her No and she replied with, Well that's Ok, you usually don't start coming in until 18 or whenever you are sexually active [if that's before 18]. Mind you I just turned 21 in November, so it wasn't that long ago. Two Decembers ago. I, too, think it is too young and an invasion of a young girl's body. Were you watching The Doctors or the Dr. Oz show? I can't really think of another show that might suggest that. If that's the case, then I am very disappointed in their advice.

Charlene - posted on 02/22/2010

I think 9 is a little young for a pap exam, unless the child is sexually active, but that's just my opinion. (Hopefully they aren't sexually active at that age, though. :/)

Now, if a 9 year old had some sort of infection down there, by all means, TAKE THEM TO THE GYNO. It's not an 'invasion of privacy' nor is it stealing their innocence. It's a medical exam.

Cassie - posted on 02/22/2010

I think that if a young girl is having gynecological issues such as yeast infections, she should most certainly be taken to a gyno. A gynecologist has had specialized training in dealing with female issues and would be better suited for helping the child.



I don't think that it is necessary to see a gyno beginning at age 9 for a yearly though. That seems a bit extreme to me. Unless you know for a fact that your 9 year old has become sexually active, there should be no need to begin the yearly exam so young.



I had my first appointment with a gynecologist at age 19, a few months before my wedding. I had not had sex before that and it was not necessary for me.