Re: 11 year pelvic exam --what?
From: Hector Nemirovsky M.D. (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue, 3 Jun 2003 20:41:07 -0500 (CDT)
Some GYN pediatrician replace the exam with an U/S.
At Tue, 3 Jun 2003, vw wrote:
>
>At Sat, 31 May 2003, cheryl wrote:
>>
>>Just came back from new female pediatrician on Friday for camp check up
>>for my 11 daughter...My daughter is overweight and showing a few
>>symptons of puberty, so we're thinking period soon or not...This new
>>doctor wanted to do an "internal" on my daughter..Of course, my daughter
>>is not sexually active, and doesn't even know about pelvic exams...she's
>>aware of sex to the extent of an 11 year old, and extremely innocent, as
>>many are at that age...
>>
>>I was suprised when the doctor suggested this...I mentioned to her that
>>it might be more appropriate when she starts her period, and she said
>>she wanted to see if everything is alright..my daughter has never had
>>any symptoms of anything unusual below her navel...
>>I told the doctor, not at this time, and I believe she had
>>attitude..She's not the most sympathic doctor we've seen, but our
>>usually is on maternity leave..
>>
>>I've seen a few mentions on the boards about first pelvic exams at 18 or
>>when sexually active....what's the deal with this doctor? and is this
>>appropriate???
>>many thanks.
>
>certainly not necessary at that age. Only if she was in real pain in
>that area from her womb or ovaries, neither apply in your case. The
>emotional trauma of being put through an exam at that age with no
>comprehension of the feelings of an exam that is so invasive. It could
>change her attitude to sex for many years to come if she isn't ready for
>it. Only as a dire emergency. sounds like you should at least get
>another opinion before complying with the doc.
--
Hector Nemirovsky M.D.
Fmr Head Obstetrics Division, Hospital Fernández, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Fmr Assistant Professor in Obstetrics at Medical School, Buenos Aires University, Argentina
Private Practice,
Buenos Aires,
Argentina
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