When Should My Adolescent Have Her First Gynecologic Visit?

As a parent, you may wonder when the right time is for your daughter’s first gynecologic visit. Our team at OBGYN Westside, PLLC, on the Upper West Side of New York City, provides compassionate, age-appropriate care to ensure your daughter feels comfortable and informed about her reproductive health — and we can help you determine the right time to schedule her first appointment.

Read on as our team explains when most teens are ready for their first gynecologic visit, what to expect during that visit, and how to prepare your daughter for hers.

When should your daughter schedule her first gynecologic visit?

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends adolescents have their first visit with a gynecologist between ages 13-15. Often, teens are reluctant to go to their first gyn visit and for those who are not sexually active and have no issues with their periods we recommend the latest by age 17-18. You can tell them a pelvic exam may not be necessary at this time, this visit helps establish a relationship with one of our six female physicians at OBGYN Westside, PLLC.

This visit also provides your adolescent with an opportunity to discuss important aspects of her reproductive health, such as her period, cramps, or other premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms she might experience.

What happens during this visit?

For some adolescents, the first gynecologic visit is more about education and conversation than an exam itself. During her visit, we may discuss topics such as menstrual health, hygiene, sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention, and the HPV vaccine.

If your daughter has concerns like irregular periods, heavy bleeding, or pelvic pain, this is also a good time to address them. That being said, you don’t need to wait until your daughter has concerns before scheduling her first appointment; you can set up an appointment to establish care.

In most cases, a physical exam is limited to general health checks unless a specific issue requires further evaluation. For example, if your daughter hasn’t had her first period by age 15 or if she has severe period pain, we may recommend a pelvic exam.

Helping your daughter prepare for her first gynecologic visit

If your daughter is embarrassed to talk about her reproductive health, remind her that it’s part of her overall health, and there’s no shame in talking openly about it.

Many teen girls have concerns about their periods, and speaking up is the only way to find solutions for pain relief. For example, about 90% of teens who menstruate have period pain, and up to 30% of them miss school because of it.

Before her appointment, talk to your daughter about what to expect and encourage her to ask any questions she may have.

Some potential questions include:

When should I expect my first period? (If she hasn’t had one yet.)
How can I manage bad period cramps at school?
What can I do about mood swings?
What can help with severe acne?
Why are my periods so bad?
Do I need birth control? What are my options?

If your daughter is nervous, suggest she write down her questions so she doesn’t have to worry about memorizing them. Depending on her comfort level, she may choose to have a parent in the room or speak privately with our team. Also tell her that she may not need an exam. However if it is recommended that she has an exam, it is ultimately her choice. While uncomfortable, the exam should not be painful. We have extra narrow speculums and will talk her through the exam to make sure it is the least uncomfortable possible.

You might also suggest some techniques like deep breathing to ease her anxiety before or during her exam.

If your daughter is approaching adolescence, now is the right time to plan her first gynecologic visit. Contact us today to schedule her appointment by calling our office or booking an appointment online.