Content
Pediatric and adolescent gynecologists provide comprehensive gynecologic care to children from birth to age 21 for a variety of conditions.
Pediatric Gynecology
Pediatricians may not be trained to address the unique gynecological issues that can affect children and are often not familiar with the different conditions that may signal a specific diagnosis. For this reason, children who experience these and other conditions should be seen by a trained pediatric gynecologist:
- Congenital abnormalities of the genitalia or in the reproductive tract, including difference of sex development and vaginal agenesis (born without a vagina)
- Vaginal bleeding that occurs before puberty
- Vaginal and other reproductive tract infections
- Labial adhesions, which occur when the inner lips of the vagina stick together and partially or completely block the opening to the vagina and urethra. Labial adhesions can occur in young girls ages three months to six years.
Adolescent Gynecology
An adolescent gynecologist is specially trained in the anatomy and needs of adolescents and routinely treats the following conditions:
- Menstrual conditions, including amenorrhea (absence of menstruation), dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), menstrual suppression (medical elimination or suppression of menstruation)
- Early or delayed puberty
- Vaginal and other reproductive tract infections
- Contraceptive and medical use of birth control
- Endometriosis and pelvic pain
- Ovarian cysts or masses
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Adolescent gender care including hormone therapy
- Gynecological care and fertility preservation associated with complex medical conditions
- Sexually transmitted disease and infection screenings
