Establishing the Foundation for Good Healthcare Practices for a Lifetime
Authored by Dr. Grayson Guzman on 4/6/2011
Authored by Grayson Guzman
4/6/2011
Categories: Health News, MomDocs Online
Categories: Health News, MomDocs Online
As a relatively new parent of 14-month twin boys, I can say confidently that I identify with your well-intentioned goals to see for your children a solid foundation upon which they may have good health practices.
The question is often posed to me during a mother's annual preventative care visit regarding when the first gynecologic visit should be made for an adolescent daughter.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that "[given] the high pregnancy rates and STD rates among adolescent girls in the US compared with other developed countries, we continue to encourage parents to bring their daughters to an ob-gyn for their first visit earlier rather than later. As ob-gyns, this visit gives us a golden opportunity to build trust in the physician-patient relationship and to counsel both adolescents and their parents about healthy behaviors."
So, to address adequately your daughter's issues concerning her healthcare maintenance and reproductive health; to encourage healthy lifestyle habits for a lifetime; and to assuage any fears, I urge you to have your daughter establish care with a gynecologist early to foster a healthy physician-patient relationship... just as you have entrusted your care to me.
